The US Weather Department had confirmed more than a month back that twenty-five states in total were at the highest risk of experiencing severe floods this year in spring and summer. This alerting news had also been confirmed and posted by multiple sources, including The New York Times. Given that Nebraska and Iowa had already experienced late-winter floods with unforeseen and unexpected amounts of rain, this forecast did not come as a surprise, although it was a reason for concern nonetheless. Given the current situation with the floods across Central US, the forecast is coming into full realization with each passing day it seems.
Almost All Lower States are at Risk
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), thirty-six states in total are at risk of experiencing floods in between Mid-March and the beginning of summer, but only twenty-five of them were considered to be at the risk of experiencing serious damage from the flooding.
Central US Experiencing Heavy Cyclones and Flooding as of Now
As we are officially into the month of May, which is historically known to be notorious for disastrous storms all across the North American continent, it has started off with heavy damages to the Central US states, as was predicted earlier by the weather department. Roughly twenty-five tornadoes have already hit different parts of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
The tornadoes devastated and flooded the city of Sulphur in Oklahoma, while Amarillo in Texas was bombarded with a hailstorm.
Other regions scattered across Northern Texas, Central Oklahoma, Southern Missouri and Northwestern Arkansas also experienced severe weather conditions due to the tornadoes and hailstorms, leading to loss of power, property damage and flooding. Perhaps the most devastating damage that has been reported yet in these areas is that of a house in Boone, Arkansas, losing its roof as a tornado went right past it.
There Have Not Been Any Fatalities Yet
Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported yet, although a number of injury reports have come in from various areas of the states and cities already affected.
The High-Alert Regions
If someone you know, your family or you are located in any of the following regions, consider moving for the time being or take adequate preparations necessary to stay protected during the storms and the ensuing floods:
- Mississippi Basin (Upper, Middle and Lower)
- All areas around the Great Lakes
- All regions around the Red River of the North
- Eastern Bank of the Missouri River
- Lower banks of the Cumberland River
- Lower banks of the Ohio River
- The entire Tennessee River basin
Advise for the Flood Prone States and Cities
HH Insurance has listed a detailed guide on how to prepare for a flood on their webpage, so go through it thoroughly and take every precaution possible. Among the most important steps to take would be listening to the forecast at all times, preparing a route of evacuation, prepping emergency supplies (food, medicine, water, etc.) and getting flood insurance for the property damages that just cannot be avoided in case of natural disasters.
The NOAA had already warned back in March about the upcoming floods and how they could be worse than even 1993, and unfortunately, it looks like that forecast is indeed coming true.
