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Severe weather prompted tornado warnings in Memphis and surrounding areas as a massive storm system moves through the region.
Tornadoes were reported in parts of Arkansas and Tennessee, with a significant tornado touching down near Lake City, Arkansas.
The Storm Prediction Center has issued a rare "high" risk outlook for severe weather across the mid-South, mid-Mississippi, and lower Ohio valleys, indicating a strong likelihood of large, destructive tornadoes. States under a tornado watch include Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, and Texas.
CNN reports that the storm has already caused significant damage in several states, including Missouri, where homes and structures were destroyed.
In Lake City, Arkansas, at least five houses and one power line were downed, according to Mayor Cameron Tate.
Four injuries have been reported in Craighead County, Arkansas. There have been no reported fatalities.
Currently, 22 counties have reported damage to the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM). These counties include: Arkansas, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Faulkner, Fulton, Greene, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Perry, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Randolph, Saline, Sharp, St. Francis, and Woodruff.
Most counties are still assessing the full extent of the damage, but preliminary reports indicate impacts to homes, trees, power lines, and roadways due to wind gusts, hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding.
The Weather Channel highlights the potential for life-threatening flooding in areas surrounding Memphis, as storms are expected to produce heavy rainfall for the next several days. Residents are advised to have plans in place for both tornadoes and flooding.
In response to the severe weather, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency and released $250,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund to aid recovery efforts.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee also requested an Emergency Declaration for Tennessee ahead of the severe weather. The State of Emergency allows the state to take measures to protect citizens and expedite assistance, including mobilizing resources and coordinating responses.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) encourages all Tennesseans to take preparedness steps ahead of the severe weather system, with impacts expected Wednesday evening through Saturday afternoon.