At least 5 dead after storms bring flash floods to Kentucky, Tennessee
At least five people were killed, and dozens were missing following severe storms in Kentucky and Tennessee that triggered flash floods and washed out roads, officials said.
Two rounds of storms dropped nearly a foot of rain in some areas of Kentucky, surpassing previous rainfall records and overwhelming local communities. At least four people were killed in the storms, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on June 28.
“This flooding has devastated so many communities across our state and taken the lives of four children of God, gone too soon,” Beshear said, adding that more than 63 water rescues have been conducted by local and state public safety agencies.
“While we are still in the search and rescue phase, we are also working quickly to survey damage to submit a request for federal assistance,” he added. “People have lost their homes and so much more, and this type of support will be essential as we work to recover and rebuild together.”
Three people died in Madison County, including a man and woman who were found in a flooded basement, according to the coroner’s office. Another man died in a weather-related car accident, the coroner’s office said. Their identities have not been released.
In Hardin County, a juvenile died after a car overturned in a flooded creek, WAVE 3 News reported. The driver and another juvenile were treated and released from a local hospital. Police said the driver was arrested on DUI and first-degree assault charges, local news outlets reported.
In Grainger County, Tennessee, a mother died on June 28 after rescuing her son from being swept away by floodwaters, WVLT reported. The woman, Mary Evelyn Nicole Manning-Kellione, 39, managed to pull the boy out of harm’s way but did not escape the raging flash flood.
By the evening of June 28, most of the rain had dissipated, though search and rescue operations were ongoing in some parts of Kentucky.
“There are a lot of rescues going on right now,” Beshear said in a video address on June 28.
Beshear declared a statewide emergency and at least 18 cities and counties in Kentucky issued emergency declarations over the weekend.
In Madison County, where the worst of the flooding occurred, at least 320 homes were without water and 17 households sought temporary shelter, according to the governor’s office.
Beshear said the state will conduct damage assessments statewide and will request public and individual assistance from the federal government. He urged people to avoid driving if possible to avoid more rescues and keep the roads clear for emergency responders.
“If you can stay off the roads, do. Bridges have been wiped out, entire roads have been wiped away and there is still standing and moving water,” he said.
Additional reporting by Caroline Neal and Stephanie Kuzydym of the Louisville Courier Journal.
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published June 29, 2026 at 6:24 PM.