The glow of cellphone lights could be seen across the auditorium of at least one Baptist church on Sunday morning (April 6) after severe weather knocked out power to thousands in Middle Tennessee — and has brought deadly tornadoes and flooding in recent days to the state and other areas of the South and Midwest.
“Really powerful and special service… even without electricity. No electricity but there was definitely power in the room,” said Bruce Raley, senior associate pastor of First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Tennessee, in a Facebook post that morning.
Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have kept busy during the past week as a relentless wave of storms continues to pound the region with flooding and tornadoes from Texas to Ohio. Also see related story on recent DR efforts. According to media reports, heavy rain has flooded homes, roads and communities in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and other places. At least 18 people as of Sunday have died — 10 fatalities have been reported in Tennessee alone, according to the Associated Press and Weather Channel.
Cities across the region, including Louisville — where the Ohio River rose five feet in just 24 hours — have declared emergencies and deployed sandbags to avoid more damage. The National Weather Service has warned that flooding could impact communities for days, with many areas expected to reach “major flood stage.”
Flash flooding, tornadoes threats remain high
Flash flooding and tornado threats remain high across Mississippi, Georgia and Florida, with tornadoes already touching down in Mississippi, according to media reports. In Arkansas, a train reportedly derailed after floodwaters destroyed a bridge, and a 5-year-old boy was recently killed when a tree fell on his home.
Officials have issued urgent warnings and evacuation orders as the storm system continues to deliver record-breaking rainfall, AP reported.
See other related links below:
Severe storms are battering parts of the South and Midwest -World News Group
Rising rivers threaten US South and Midwest after dayslong torrent of rain – Associated Press
Severe Weather Crisis Inundates Midwest, South As Death Toll Climbs – The Weather Channel
Rising rivers threaten US South and Midwest after barrage of rain and tornadoes – Kentucky Today/Associated Press
EDITOR’S NOTE — This report was compiled by The Baptist Paper, with reporting from other media reports.
