Severe storms have paralyzed parts of the United States over the Memorial Day weekend, causing extensive destruction and fatalities.
The adverse weather conditions, including tornadoes and heavy storms, led to at least 21 deaths and the grounding of all flights at New York's JFK Airport.
In the wake of the storms, travel across the central U.S. has been severely impacted, with 4,600 flights delayed and 409 canceled, Daily Mail reported. City officials in New York issued a red alert on Monday, expecting critical conditions to persist into early Tuesday.
The storms swept through several states, notably impacting Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and Tennessee. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear confirmed the tragic loss of four lives, including children, issuing an emergency declaration to manage the catastrophe.
Alongside the tragic loss of life, infrastructure damage and possible flash flooding raised alarms in New York City, where a red alert was issued to preempt the severe weather conditions expected to bring torrential rain and hail.
Tragically, in Cooke County, Texas, a tornado devastated a home, leading to the heartbreaking death of a local family. This added to the toll, making it one of the deadliest tornado incidents in the state since 2015.
Benito Esparza, a Texas resident, faced immense personal loss during the storm, which claimed the lives of his sister-in-law and her children. His story reflects the devastating human aspect of natural disasters.
At Chicago's O'Hare Airport, the weather led to dramatic scenes as a plane’s engine caught fire, underscoring the widespread disruption and hazardous conditions caused by the storms.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear expressed profound sorrow for the grieving families, urging community support:
Sadly we can confirm that we have lost at least four Kentuckians from last night's storm. We ought to rally around them and do everything we can to carry them and the days the weeks and the years to come.
The violence of the weather was also felt strongly in New York City. JFK Airport had a ground stop on all flights due to the ongoing thunderstorms, a rare preventive measure meant to ensure passenger safety. The Federal Aviation Administration expected the ground stop to continue until late Monday afternoon.
New York's response to the impending severe weather was swift and organized. At about 2:45 p.m., a special weather statement issued for Queens and Brooklyn advised residents to remain indoors. The statement highlighted the risk of gusty winds, which could cause further damage by knocking down tree limbs and blowing around unsecured objects.
The National Weather Service's alert, echoed by NYCEM—Notify NYC, recommended that people seek immediate shelter if outdoors, emphasizing the seriousness of the approaching storm.
These intense weather events also placed over 100 million people along the East Coast at potential risk, stretching emergency services and disrupting everyday life. The coordination between state officials and emergency management agencies aimed to mitigate the impact and provide timely updates to the public.
