Severe weather in parts of the South and Midwest have killed at least nine people as of Saturday. 

The threats ranged from tornadoes that destroyed entire neighborhoods to extreme flash flooding.

Among those who were killed include a 9-year-old boy from Kentucky.  

Kentucky boy drowns

A 9-year-old boy from Kentucky died Friday on his way to school. 

He was swept away in floodwaters in Frankfort as he was walking to his bus stop around 6:30 a.m., according to Frankfort Police. 

Two hours later, emergency crews recovered his body, police said.

Local perspective:

Frankfort County Schools Superintendent Mark Kopp confirmed the boy was a student in the school system.

“We are more than a school system, we’re a family,” he said, “and we share this loss together.” 

“My heart breaks for this family,” Kentucky Gov Andy Beshear said in a statement.

Dig deeper:

A 74-year-old was also killed in Kentucky’s severe flooding. 

The body was found Saturday inside a fully submerged vehicle in Nelson County, authorities said. 

Flooding today

By the numbers:

Since Wednesday, more than a foot of rain has now fallen in parts of Kentucky, and more than 8 inches has fallen in parts of Arkansas and Missouri, forecasters said Saturday. 

Hundreds of roads were impassable Friday because of high water, downed trees or mud and rock slides, and the number of closures were likely to increase with more rain Saturday, said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

What’s next:

Flash flood emergencies continued to be issued Saturday across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, with more heavy rains and damaging winds in the mix.

What they’re saying:

Forecasters attributed the violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming from the Gulf.

 Nearly half of National Weather Service offices critically understaffed, report warns

Big picture view:

Outside of Kentucky, at least seven people were killed as an outbreak of tornadoes destroyed entire neighborhoods, with more twisters possible in places this weekend.

At least two reports of observed tornadoes were noted Friday evening in Missouri and Arkansas, according to the NWS.