At Least 8 People Dead, Including a Mom and Her Young Child, in 'Severe' Kentucky Storm

Mar. 15, 2025

At least eight people have died amid a severe storm that swept through Kentucky over the weekend, leaving flooding in its wake.

The AP reported that Hart County Coroner Tony Roberts confirmed the mother and child were swept away on the night of Saturday, Feb. 15, in the rural unincorporated community of Bonnieville.

A road is closed off in Kentucky near the Barren River due to flooding after a storm on Feb. 16, 2025.Clarksville Fire Rescue via Getty

Clarksville Fire Rescue via Getty

Another who died in the storm includes a 73-year-old man in southeastern Kentucky, who was found dead in floodwaters in Clay County, County Emergency Management Deputy Director Revelle Berry told the AP.

The Barren River floods at the entrance to Weldon Peete Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky.Clarksville Fire Rescue via Getty

Beshear also said during his press conference that rescue operations were underway around the state, and many of them involved rescuing people stranded in flooded areas, per the AP.

According to CNN, more than 1,000 rescue operations have been performed in the past day, and Beshear described the storm as “one of the most serious weather events we’ve dealt with in at least a decade.”

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The Barren River floods underneath a bridge on Kentucky Route 185 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.Brett Carlsen/Getty

Brett Carlsen/Getty

The storm, which passed through Kentucky early on Feb. 15 and gained momentum as the day went on, perCNN, caused historic levels of flooding and about six inches of rain.

The AP also reported that power was knocked out for about 39,000 homes. Beshear warned during the press conference that harsh winds in some areas could increase outages, per the AP.

The governordeclared a state of emergencyin Kentucky ahead of the storm on Feb. 14. Beshear later thankedPresident Donald Trumpin asocial media poston Feb. 16 for approving a federal disaster declaration, which will make federal funding available to impacted areas of the state.

Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson told CNN on Feb. 16 that the severe weather event would probably “continue for several more days.”

Beshear has since urged Kentucky residents to stay off flooded roadways. “So folks, stay off the roads right now and stay alive,” the governor said. “This is the search and rescue phase, and I am very proud of all the Kentuckians that are out there responding, putting their lives on the line.”

source: people.com