Deadly storms kill 21, child dies going to school

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A devastating series of storms and tornadoes swept through the Midwest and South this weekend, claiming 21 lives and causing widespread destruction to homes and businesses. The catastrophic weather event took a particularly tragic turn when a young Kentucky student lost his life while attempting to reach his school bus stop.

Nine-year-old Gabriel Andrews was caught in dangerous floodwaters early Friday morning, despite an active flash flood warning issued by the National Weather Service. The warning, which covered Franklin County and 12 surrounding counties in Kentucky, was set to remain in effect until 8:30 a.m.

The school district’s response to the severe weather conditions raised serious questions. Rather than implementing a district-wide closure, administrators opted for minimal action, announcing on social media at 5 a.m. that only two bus routes would be canceled. As conditions deteriorated, the district continued to dismiss concerns about school closures, maintaining that operations were proceeding normally even after Andrews had been reported missing.

🚨‼️ BREAKING:

At least 31 dead as 40 tornadoes rip through the United States, according to local media reports. 🌪️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/SsMpn8wdTZ

— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) March 16, 2025

Local resident Caitlin Green provided a stark contrast to the district’s assessment, telling CNN affiliate WLKY that “the rain was coming down hard” and “flooded roadways” forced Andrews to navigate treacherous conditions to reach his bus stop.

Tragically, search teams discovered the third-grader’s body approximately half a mile from where floodwaters had swept him away in the Hickory Hills area. Superintendent Mark Kopp, who provided no explanation for keeping schools open during the weather emergency, released a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened that this horrific tragedy has claimed the life of one of our students.”

The incident occurred during a state of emergency in Kentucky, with waterways approaching historic levels. The devastating weather system’s impact extended far beyond Kentucky’s borders, causing multiple fatalities across several states. Tennessee reported ten deaths, while Arkansas, Missouri, and Georgia also suffered casualties.

On Sunday, severe, life – threatening weather pounded multiple states. Memphis (TN) and Little Rock (AR) faced flood threats. Tornado warnings were out in LA, AL, GA, and FL. Since Wednesday, the bad weather has killed at least 20. pic.twitter.com/3tceYDyB7Z

— Diss MA Lusio (follow back 💯) (@ma_lusio) April 7, 2025

Among the victims were a 5-year-old Arkansas boy who died when a tree collapsed onto his home, and a 16-year-old Missouri volunteer firefighter who lost his life in an accident while attempting to assist storm victims.

The aftermath of the storms continues to affect the region, with Kentucky alone reporting over 500 closed state roads. Numerous locations across multiple states are expected to reach major flood stages. Meanwhile, local authorities, including the Frankfort Police Department and Franklin County Coroner’s Office, are conducting an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of Gabriel’s death.