New York City under flood watch, states brace for tornadoes as Memorial Day storms hit East Coast
As storms pelt the East Coast, communities in the central US are mourning the 21 lives lost to severe weather this weekend
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.At least 21 people have died, including two children, in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky after violent storms ripped through the central US over Memorial Day weekend.
At least 11 tornadoes swept through affected states on Sunday, with severe weather forecast to continue throughout Memorial Day. On Monday, a staggering 120m Americans were at risk of large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes as storm systems moved towards the Gulf Coast and East Coast, according to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center.
The storms could bring gusts up to 70 miles per hour and quarter-sized hail.
Meanwhile, record-high temperatures are feared in other parts of the country, with excessive heat warnings and heat advisories over southern Texas on Monday.
The death toll climbed to 21 people on Monday.
At least eight people have so far died as a result of the extreme storms in Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at a news conference on Sunday evening.
Four people died in Kentucky, Governor Andy Beshear confirmed on Monday morning. The victims included a 67-year-old woman in Mercer County, a 62-year-old woman in Hardin County, a 48-year-old woman in Hopkins County and a 34-year-old man in Jefferson County, the governor said.
A fifth person was injured and is fighting for their life as of Monday afternoon, Mr Beshear said.
Meanwhile in Oklahoma, at least two people were killed in Mayes County after a tornado ripped through the northeast part of the state.
In Texas, multiple tornados were reported throughout the state with one plowing through Cooke County on Saturday night – approximately 50 miles north of Dallas – leaving seven people dead.
The sheriff confirmed that a two-year-old and a five-year-old were among the dead. The victims also included three other family members who were found in a home near Valley View – a rural community close to the Oklahoma border.
Arkansas sheriff confirms death after severe storms
The Benton County Sheriff’s Office in Benton County, Arkansas confirmed one person died as a result of the storms that ripped through the area on Saturday evening.
Multiple people were injured as a result of the storm – which is believed to have brought tornados – downed power lines, destroyed businesses and uprooted trees in the area.
In photos: Tornado damage in Oklahoma
What to do when a tornado hits
Weather radios, specialized receivers that get alerts and can sound an alarm in an emergency, are something that every home and business should have, said Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s forecast office in Norman, Oklahoma.
The ideal places to take shelter are enclosed, underground shelters and basements, or a safe room above ground that’s designed to withstand tornadic winds.
If you have to be above ground in a tornado, “your goal is to put as many walls and barriers between you and the outside as you possibly can,” Smith said.
If you are in a car or truck, “you really don’t have a lot of good options at that point,” Smith said. “Try not to get caught in that situation.” The best thing to do is get off the road and try to find a building. If there’s nowhere to go, there are no guaranteed safe options.
Texas man describes moment he found family trapped under debris from torando
Kevin Dorantes, 20, was in nearby Carrollton when he learned the tornado was bearing down on the Valley View neighborhood where he lived with his father and brother. He called and told them to take cover in the windowless bathroom, where the pair rode out the storm and survived without injury.
Some of Dorantes’ neighbors weren’t so lucky.
As he wandered through the neighborhood surveying downed power lines and devastated properties, he came upon a family whose home was reduced to a pile of splintered rubble. A father and son were trapped under debris, and friends and neighbors worked frantically to get them out, Dorantes said.
“They were conscious but severely injured,” Dorantes said. “The father’s leg was snapped.”
He said they managed to put the father on a mattress and carry him to a truck, where he and his son were driven to an ambulance at a nearby convenience store.
At least 18 dead as death toll rises as severe storms continue to sweep US
At least 18 people have died, including two children, in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kentucky after violent storms ripped through the central US over Memorial Day weekend.
Amelia Neath reports:
At least 18 killed as severe storms and tornadoes pummel central US
A staggering 120 million Americans remain at risk of severe weather on Monday, with storms now heading for the East Coast
A COPD patient lost life after power cut from oxygen machine during storm
At least eight people have so far died as a result of the extreme storms in Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced at a news conference on Sunday evening.
One of the victims suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and depended on an oxygen concentrator; however, the machine stopped working when the power went out, officials at the press conference said.
Another victim died from a heart attack, while another was killed when a tree or a branch hit a trailer, they added.
These three victims came on top of the five who were confirmed dead earlier in the day by local officials, one of which was a 26-year-old woman who was found dead outside a house that was decimated by the weather.
Second dead in Kentucky bringing death toll to at least 19
A second person has died in relation to the severe storm weather, after a tree fell on a home in Mercer County, Kentucky, according to the county’s Emergency Management.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the residence early on Monday morning after a report of a possible unresponsive person inside. The person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another individual was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The deadly weather and storm clusters have now killed at least 19 people across four states in the US.
This death comes after another person in Kentucky died as a result of the storm in Louisville.
Storms expected to move east
The National Weather Service (NWS) has warned that the severe storms currently hitting areas of the central US are going to move eastern through Monday.
The NWS’ Storm Prediction Center issued a severe thunderstorm watch early Monday morning for portions of Central Alabama, with primary threats including damaging wind gusts of up to 70mph, large 1.5-inch hail and a possibility of a tornado or two.
This comes as a cluster of thunderstorms are moving rapidly east out of Mississippi, bringing with it high wind speeds and hail.
Tornado watches have also been issued by the centre in the early hours of Monday morning for: northern Alabama, southeastern Arkansas, northwestern Georgia, northeastern Louisiana and west-central to northeastern Mississippi, effective until 8am CDT.
Along with wind and hail, the weather authorities say there will be a few tornados and a possibility of a couple “intense” tornados.
In photos: Tornado destruction in Valley View, Texas
Excessive heat warning for parts of Texas
An Excessive Heat Warning has been put in place for areas of Texas, including Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, that is in effect until 8pm on Memorial Day, as triple-digit temperatures will hit the state.
Over 70 cities have been given an extreme heat warning by the National Weather Service (NWS), with temperatures expected to rise to 115F in areas such as south central Texas and a possibility of around 117F in the Corpus Chris region.
Cooling centers have been opened in the city of Austin to provide respite from the sweltering weather.
The NWS reccomends that Texans drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and try and stay in an air-conditioned environment, as well as reminding residents to check up on their neighbours and relatives.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments