Severe storms wreaked havoc in various parts of the U.S. during the Memorial Day weekend, resulting in a tragic loss of life with at least 22 people losing their lives and hundreds sustaining injuries.
Severe storms wreaked havoc in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky, causing significant damage. These destructive weather conditions then made their way towards the East Coast on Monday evening.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) revealed during a press conference on Monday that there have been five fatalities in his state, one of which involved a 54-year-old man who suffered a heart attack while attempting to clear fallen trees. Earlier in the day, the governor declared a state of emergency in response to widespread reports of wind damage and tornadoes.
Officials in Mayes County, Oklahoma, have reported two fatalities.
According to The Associated Press, a tornado tore through a rural area near a mobile home park in Cooke County, Texas, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven individuals on Saturday.
According to officials, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has reported that there were two young children, aged 2 and 5, among the fatalities. In addition, over 100 individuals sustained injuries, while more than 200 homes and structures were completely demolished. The Valley View community endured wind gusts of approximately 135 mph during this devastating incident.
According to Abbott, the dreams and aspirations of families and small businesses in Texas have been destroyed by one storm after another.
As of Sunday, Abbott has declared a disaster for 108 counties in Texas.
According to Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the storms in Arkansas resulted in the unfortunate loss of eight lives. While two deaths were indirectly related to the weather, with one person experiencing a heart attack and another losing oxygen due to a power outage, the storms were still a contributing factor.
In Arkansas, several lives were lost due to the devastating effects of the disaster. Among the victims was a 26-year-old woman who tragically perished inside a demolished home in Boone County. Additionally, one person lost their life in Benton County, while two more fatalities were reported in Marion County. The impact of these deaths serves as a somber reminder of the destructive force that swept through the region.
Residents from North Carolina to Maryland were under tornado watches as the storms approached the eastern U.S. late afternoon on Monday. Meanwhile, residents from Alabama to New York were on the highest alert for severe weather.
More than 400,000 customers were without power by Monday afternoon, with the majority of outages occurring in the eastern part of the United States. Kentucky alone had approximately 125,000 customers affected.
President Biden expressed his condolences for the victims of the storm on Sunday evening, conveying his and the first lady’s prayers for those who tragically lost their lives.
In a statement, President Biden expressed his commitment to provide federal disaster relief to the Midwest and South, acknowledging the devastating impact of recent storms and severe weather on communities in these regions.
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