At least 9 dead, including 8 in Kentucky as heavy rain triggers flooding and submerged roads

At least nine people have lost their lives as severe weather continues to wreak havoc across the United States. Kentucky has been the hardest hit, with eight fatalities as rising waters swept away cars and homes.
US President Donald Trump approved a disaster declaration for Kentucky, allowing federal aid to assist with relief efforts.
Flooding in Kentucky
Governor Andy Beshear confirmed on Sunday that hundreds of people had to be rescued after heavy rainfall caused creeks to overflow, submerging roads and homes.
A mother and her seven-year-old child were among those who drowned after their car was caught in floodwaters in Hart County. In southeastern Kentucky, a 73-year-old man was found dead in Clay County. In total, four people lost their lives in Hart County alone.
The flooding forced the Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson to close its emergency department and transfer all patients to other hospitals. Authorities posted images on social media showing homes and vehicles completely submerged, while mudslides blocked roads in Virginia and other areas.
Beshear reported that over 1,000 rescues had been carried out since the storms began on Saturday. Nearly 39,000 homes lost power, and strong winds threatened to cause further outages.
Cold grips northern US
While the South deals with severe flooding, the Northern Plains are facing dangerously low temperatures. An Arctic blast is sending wind chills plunging as low as -50°F (-45.6°C) across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
The national weather service warned of “life-threatening cold” with temperatures expected to drop to -30°F (-34°C) or lower on Monday and Tuesday.
The storm system has also made travel difficult. Michigan saw 114 crashes in the Detroit area on Sunday caused by drivers going too fast on icy roads.
Avalanche warnings have been issued across the Rocky Mountains, stretching from Colorado to Washington state, with Utah facing the highest risk.
Meteorologists say this is the 10th polar vortex event of the season, with Arctic winds forcing frigid air down from the North Pole into the US and Europe. Authorities are urging people to stay off the roads and take precautions to stay safe.
Tornado in the South
In Alabama, an EF-1 tornado struck Hale County overnight, damaging mobile homes, toppling trees, and bringing down power lines. Meanwhile, in Tennessee, a levee in the small town of Rives failed on Saturday afternoon, sending floodwaters rushing into nearby neighbourhoods. A levee is a man-made embankment built along rivers or lakes to prevent flooding.
Officials rushed to evacuate residents, while a flash flood warning had been issued for the area just hours before the levee collapsed.
In Atlanta, a person was killed when a massive tree crashed onto a home early Sunday, according to Atlanta fire rescue captain Scott Powell.