Heavy rain storms, dozens of tornadoes and dangerous floods swept Central America for several days, and are expected to continue to abuse the community on Saturday.
Officials are preparing for rain, strong winds, hail and flash floods that could rise from East Texas and Louisiana to southwest Pennsylvania, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
The storm has already caused havoc in these areas, killing at least eight people, including a 9-year-old boy who was cleaned up in the floodwaters of Frankfort, Kentucky. Recovery efforts have been hampered in some areas by the weather and could taper by Sunday.
On Saturday, western Tennessee, southeastern Arkansas, western Mississippi and Louisiana face serious risks from the storm.
Scott Unger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Nashville, said: Sometimes hail can grow as big as a golf ball, he said.
The National Weather Service also warned of life-threatening flash floods across the region, urging people to turn around if they run into washed-down roads, adding that most of the flooding has occurred with vehicles.
City crossing the Stormy Road includes Little Rock and Ark. Jackson, Michigan. And Memphis is bracing for the worst. Mayor Craig Greenberg of Louisville, Kentucky, said in a news release he expects the Ohio River to rise by about 30 feet. Officials in St. Louis County, Missouri, said parts of Interstate 44 are likely to be in the water by Sunday. Officials in Padoca, Kentucky said they have installed floodgates and have obtained more pump stations.
In Louisville, Kentucky, the area's sewerage utility said its sewer system reached capacity due to heavy rain and asked customers to refrain from operating washing machines and dishwashers.
The looming rain was bothering me, but the affected areas were already fighting over the damages that had been done. On Friday, Nashville resident and graduate student at Vanderbilt University, Sidney Metz was primarily concerned about how he would reach his classes and part-time jobs next week.
“Our garden has been completely flooded,” she said Friday. “The whole river.”
In New Madrid, Missouri, mayor Nick White said Friday that the weekend storm could lead to one of the most severe floods in the city's history on the Mississippi River. He had prepared the city for a major rise in the river.
“We have a backup generator and we have a backup pump,” White said, “We were really positively responding.”
The death toll rose throughout Friday. At least five people have died in Tennessee, including a teenage girl. A man was killed in Danville, Indiana after coming into contact with a collapsed power line. Garry Moore, fire chief in Whitewater, Missouri, was killed Wednesday in response to a tornado damage.
National Weather Service meteorologist Frank Pereira said on Friday morning the heaviest rainfall will be on Friday, continuing through the first half of Saturday.
On Saturday, serious thunderstorms extending into the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana are also possible.
Jamie McGee, Curly key points, Mitch Smith and Jonathan Wolf Reports of contributions.
