VALLEY VIEW, TX – Powerful storms swept across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kentucky over the weekend, leaving at least 19 people dead and hundreds injured. The severe weather destroyed homes, toppled trees, and even obliterated a truck stop where dozens had sought refuge in a restroom.
The most devastating impact was felt in a region stretching from north of Dallas to the northwest corner of Arkansas. Forecasters warned that the storm system could bring more violent weather to other parts of the Midwest. On Monday, the greatest risk was expected to shift eastward, affecting areas from Alabama to near New York City.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency early Monday, citing multiple reports of wind damage and tornadoes. In Kentucky, falling trees claimed the lives of two individuals, with one fatality confirmed in Mercer County and another in Louisville.
In Texas, seven deaths were reported in Valley View, near the Oklahoma border, where a tornado tore through a rural area on Saturday night. Among the victims were two children, ages 2 and 5, and three family members found dead in one home. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, speaking at a news conference, described the widespread destruction, noting that about 100 people were injured and more than 200 homes and structures were destroyed.
Oklahoma also suffered significant damage, with two fatalities and numerous injuries, including guests at an outdoor wedding. In Arkansas, eight people lost their lives, including a 26-year-old woman found outside a destroyed home in Olvey.
As of early Monday morning, power outages affected approximately 189,000 homes and businesses in Kentucky, 63,000 in Arkansas, 6,000 in Texas, and 3,000 in Oklahoma. Abbott signed an amended severe weather disaster declaration to include additional counties in Texas.
Residents in the affected areas recounted harrowing experiences. Hugo Parra, from Farmers Branch, Texas, described taking shelter in a truck stop bathroom with 40 to 50 others as the storm ripped the roof and walls off the building. In Pilot Point, a woman used her key fob to signal for help after a tornado flipped her RV, trapping her inside.
The severe weather continued a grim trend of deadly storms in the central U.S., with tornadoes in Iowa last week leaving at least five people dead. Meteorologists attributed the increase in severe weather to a persistent pattern of warm, moist air.
Authorities issued urgent warnings for residents to seek cover as the storms moved across the region. The system was expected to move east over the rest of the holiday weekend, with more severe storms predicted in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee.