Severe Rainfall, Flash Floods, Tornadoes Batter Kentucky, Other Parts of South And Midwest

Kentucky and other parts of the South and Midwest faced massive flooding as severe rainfall and thunderstorms battered the region starting Thursday night. Torrential rains overnight caused major flash flooding in Louisville, Kentucky, where roads were closed Friday, schools were closed and more than 160 water rescues took place.

Stretches of interstates were closed in Indiana and Kentucky due to flooding, as well. A UPS driver had to be rescued by firefighters in a ladder truck in Indiana, where his truck was stranded on Interstate 60. A school bus with 16 students on board was stranded for three hours in floodwaters in northern Kentucky before it was rescued.

One fatality was reported in Powell County, Kentucky, on Friday. A 45-year-old woman was camping with her family at Middle Fork Campground when a dead tree was blown onto the family's tent, killing the woman and injuring her husband.

Tornadoes also were reported in the Plains and the Midwest. One occurred in Joplin, Missouri, which was struck by a deadly tornado in 2011 that killed more than 150 people. The National Weather Service was also investigating reports of a tornado touching down in Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for Tennessee, Kentucky, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas until 9 p.m. CDT.