Severe Storms Devastate Eastern US: 2 Dead, Thousands of Flights Canceled, 1.1 Million Lose Power

A deadly weather system wreaked havoc in the eastern United States, resulting in the loss of at least two lives, widespread disruption of air travel with thousands of flights canceled or delayed, and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses left without power. The storms, accompanied by hail and lightning, struck several states, with the National Weather Service issuing a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area and cautioning about the potential for damaging winds, large hail, and even strong tornadoes.

The scale of the storms was massive, with tornado watches and warnings affecting ten states, from Tennessee to New York, putting over 29.5 million people at risk. Tragically, in Anderson, South Carolina, a 15-year-old boy was fatally struck by a falling tree when he sought shelter at his grandparent’s house during the storm. In Florence, Alabama, a 28-year-old man lost his life after being struck by lightning.

The impact on air travel was significant, with more than 2,600 U.S. flights canceled and almost 7,900 delayed, causing major disruptions at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to reroute planes to avoid storm-affected areas.

The White House had to alter plans due to the severe weather, advancing President Joe Biden’s departure for a trip to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, and canceling a back-to-school cybersecurity event featuring First Lady Jill Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and other education stakeholders from around the country.

To ensure safety, federal workers were sent home early, and the Office of Personnel Management announced the closure of all non-emergency federal offices before 3 p.m.

National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong warned residents about the severity of the weather and advised them to seek strong shelter at home or work. The storms also disrupted the Major League Baseball game between the Phillies and the Washington Nationals in Philadelphia and led to a flash flood warning in Maryland after heavy rainfall.

The aftermath of the storms left over 1.1 million customers without power across several states along the storm system’s path, causing widespread damage to infrastructure that could take days to repair. Trees and power lines were knocked down in multiple states, blocking roads and causing damage to properties.

This report was contributed by Collins from Columbia, South Carolina, and additional contributions came from Darlene Superville in Washington and AP Airlines Writer David Koenig.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Storms

More about Storms

• National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov/
• FlightAware (Flight tracking service): https://flightaware.com/
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: https://www.atl.com/
• Federal Aviation Administration: https://www.faa.gov/
• The White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
• PowerOutage.us (Power outage tracking): https://poweroutage.us/
• Major League Baseball: https://www.mlb.com/
• Knoxville Utilities Board: https://www.kub.org/