Nearly 50 million people in the Midwest and South are under threat Friday from severe weather, including tornadoes, strong winds and flash flooding. This comes after devastation in Selmer, Tennessee, following an EF-3 tornado that tragically killed at least five people. FOX News’ Kailey Schuyler is on the scene in Selmer with the latest.
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A relentless barrage of tornadoes and historic flash flooding across several states has now claimed at least eight lives as of Friday, according to state and local officials.
Weather cameras in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, show how the town changed in the span of just 12 hours when heavy rain led to flooding.
The latest death occurred in Frankfort, Kentucky, where police said a boy was swept away by floodwaters as he was on his way to the school bus stop in the Hickory Hills area. He was found dead a few hours later by EMS and first responders. His age and identity have not yet been released.
This comes after a deadly tornado outbreak killed at least seven people and spawned more than 30 reports of twisters across the lower and mid-Mississippi Valley on Wednesday.
-
FOX Weather exclusive footage shows the extensive damage caused by a tornado in Arkansas. (Robert Ray)
-
The Oaks student housing center, foreground, and other nearby structures in Nevada, Missouri, sustained heavy damage when they were hit by a tornado that tore through the town on Wednesday morning, April 2, 2025. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service)
-
Structural damage is visible at Christ Community Church after a tornado struck on April 3, 2025, in Paducah, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
-
Structural damage is visible at Christ Community Church after a tornado struck on April 3, 2025, in Paducah, Kentucky. (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
-
Downed trees and heavy structure damage are seen after tornadoes moved through the area on April 03, 2025 in Selmer, Tennessee. Jason Davis/Getty Images) (Michael Swensen/Getty Images)
-
SELMER, TENNESSEE – APRIL 03: Downed trees and heavy structure damage are seen after tornadoes moved through the area on April 03, 2025 in Selmer, Tennessee. At least 5 people were reportedly killed during the severe storm which caused widespread destruction across the region. (Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images) ( )
-
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY – APRIL 3: Structural damage is visible at Christ Community Church after a tornado struck on April 3, 2025, in Paducah, Kentucky. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency ahead of the storms that are expected to cause flash flooding and tornadoes across Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images) ( )
-
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY – APRIL 3: Parishioners and community members look over damage after a tornado struck the Christ Community Church on April 3, 2025 in Paducah, Kentucky. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency ahead of the storms that are expected to cause flash flooding and tornadoes across Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Swensen/Getty Images) ( )
-
Extensive damage seen on drone video at a Louisville, Kentucky business on April 3, 2025. (Live Storms Media )
-
Extensive damage seen on drone video at a Louisville, Kentucky business on April 3, 2025. (Live Storms Media )
-
Extensive damage seen on drone video at a Louisville, Kentucky business on April 3, 2025. (Live Storms Media )
-
Extensive damage seen on drone video at a Louisville, Kentucky business on April 3, 2025. (Live Storms Media )
-
Extensive damage seen on drone video at a Louisville, Kentucky business on April 3, 2025. (Live Storms Media )
-
Tornado damage in Monette, Arkansas on April 3, 2025 after a severe weather outbreak. ( )
-
Tornado damage in Monette, Arkansas on April 3, 2025 after a severe weather outbreak. ( )
-
Storm damage to a warehouse in Brownsburg, Indiana after severe weather on April 3, 2025. ( )
At least five of those deaths happened in Tennessee, state officials said Thursday night.
The storms have also injured multiple others and destroyed several homes from Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee through Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump approved the disaster declaration for all 95 counties in Tennessee, setting in motion FEMA’s response to disaster relief across the state.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for updates.