A powerful storm swept across the southeastern United States on February 15–16, affecting more than 128 million people across the region.
The storm brought torrential rain, turning roads into raging rivers and triggering landslides. Kentucky was hit especially hard, with up to 7 inches of rain in some areas, causing catastrophic flooding. River levels reached historic highs, submerging entire neighborhoods. Hundreds of families were forced to evacuate, and rescue crews carried out more than 1,000 operations to help people escape flooded areas. Over 300 roads were underwater. The relentless rainfall also led to mudslides and rockfalls, including large boulders crashing onto Interstate 69.
At least twelve people, including a child, died in Kentucky due to flooding and traffic accidents. In Georgia, another person was killed when a tree fell on their home.
In Tennessee, a powerful surge of water breached part of a dam on the Obion River, triggering flash flooding and forcing emergency evacuations in Reeves and surrounding areas. Rescuers used boats to reach stranded residents.
In Virginia, the National Guard was deployed to assist communities affected by the fast-moving floods.
More than 430,000 customers in seven states lost power.
Meteorologists warn that conditions in the region will remain severe, as another major winter storm is expected to bring heavy snowfall to areas already devastated by deadly flooding.
Scientists warned that the energy accumulated in the oceans would manifest this winter through extreme precipitation, record-breaking cold, and other anomalies. In 2025, natural disasters could intensify by 12–15% compared to the previous year, and without decisive action from humanity, this trend will continue to accelerate. More details can be found in the video “Egon Cholakian: A Brief Analysis of the Climate Situation.”