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A severe weather outbreak in the South over the weekend and late last week has left multiple people dead, with scores of additional residents needing to be rescued after tornadoes and historic flooding. More flooding could be on the way for this hard-hit region.
As powerful storms rolled across the South over the weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) received over 250 reports of severe weather spanning from East Texas to North Carolina, the Washington Post reported. On Saturday, the NWS reported it had received 16 reports of tornadoes, 140 reports of large hail, and 100 instances of damaging winds.
Extreme flooding around the greater Nashville, Tennessee area left at least four people dead and over 130 people requiring rescue from the floodwaters over the weekend. Rescuers plucked people from cars, homes, and apartments. Rescues were also undertaken ten miles south of Nashville in the city of Brentwood. By Sunday, Nashville had received 7 inches of rain, the second-highest two-day total following the historic floods of May 2010.
By midnight on Monday, the Cumberland River is expected to reach 49 feet. The flood stage is 40 feet. Further, the National Weather Service is forecasting potential flash flooding and heavy rain for Tuesday over portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
In Carthage, Texas, the NWS issued a warning over a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado where one death and major damage was reported by local ABC affiliate KLTV.
Last Thursday, multiple tornadoes in Alabama killed at least 5 people, while a tornado in Newnan, Georgia, killed one person early Friday. At least sixty homes were damaged and Pelham, Alabama.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army are working in several states to help the victims of last week’s severe weather. The Salvation Army sent its disaster relief truck and crews to Alabama, bringing food to feed 200 people. The truck also has cleaning supplies and other much-needed items in a time of crisis, WBRC reported.
In Tennessee, volunteers, and nonprofits such as the Community Resource Center of Nashville and Hands On Nashville or assisting with needs there.
One of the biggest ways people can help is to donate to charities. Consider making donations to organizations that are on the ground in several states assisting the victims of the severe weather outbreaks.
The Red Cross and the Salvation Army are two such organizations, as well as specifically for Tennessee, consider making donations to the Community Resource Center of Nashville and Hands On Nashville.
