Feb. 16 (UPI) — Much of the country is bracing for yet another round of fierce winter weather with the latest front poised to belt the central and northeastern United States with snow, ice and dangerous winds.
In Kentucky, at least eight people are dead and another 1,000 have been rescued from ravaging water as a result of severe flooding and vicious winter weather.
“Kentucky, we are seeing dangerous and life-threatening conditions across the state, and things are only going to get tougher due to widespread flooding and incoming weather,” Beshear said at a news conference. “Please stay off the roads. If you see water over the roadway, turn around – it’s not worth it.”
He said the fatalities include two men of motor vehicles crashes and six from floodwaters, including a child.
“We believe the number [of deaths[ is going to grow,” Gov. Andy Beshear said, according to USA today. “Stay off the roads right now and stay alive.”
At least one child is among the deceased.
Beshear said the White House had approved his request for emergency assistance, making help available to people who have been affected by the storm
“From mudslides in the east to snow in the west, the situation is dangerous,” Beshear said.
He said swift water teams statewide are rescuing people, including 19 in eastern Kentucky.
More than 2,000 state highwater crew members from all 120 counties have responded this weekend.
Louisville was lashed with as much as six inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service, and more is on the way.
Around 400,000 customers are without power in the Southeast, according to Poweroutage.us, including more than 22,000 in Kentucky.
Strong winds and heavy rain have pummeled Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Much of the region remained under a flash flood warning on Sunday.
At least one person is reported dead in Georgia.
Police have reported flooding in Richmond, Va., and residents of a nursing home in Tennessee have been threatened by rising waters.
At least 20 states east of the Rockies could see snow before the beginning of the workweek, according to Accuweather, and nearly 100 million people from New York to Florida are under dangerous wind warnings, which can threaten life or property.
Storms have been tracking across the country for a week, bringing wave after wave of severe winter weather and record cold low temperatures.
Highs won’t get out of the teens in Chicago, where the wind chill index could plunge to -9, and a number of cities along the eastern seaboard will also experience near record cold.
Forecasters say there is yet another round of severe winter weather on tap for next week.
