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Flooding And Ice Storms Kill 14 Over Thanksgiving

Flooding And Ice Storms Kill 14 Over Thanksgiving

Deadly storms blamed for at least 14 deaths in the Plains and Midwest have dumped more rain on already swollen rivers and left thousands of people without power.

Eight people were killed in flooding in north Texas and another six in Kansas and Oklahoma as a result of accidents during ice storms.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation said roads in the Panhandle remained treacherous after a slow-moving storm dropped ice and freezing rain into Sunday.

More than 71,000 homes and business were without power as a result of the storms.

Forecasters predicted above-freezing temperatures in Texas and Oklahoma, but the weather conditions were expected to affect travelling conditions for people going home after Thanksgiving weekend.

Flood watches and warnings remained in effect on Sunday night in parts of north Texas and Arkansas.

A 70-year-old woman whose car was swept away in Fort Worth on Friday is still missing.

Authorities were aiming to send divers to search for her, but the rushing water made recovery efforts too dangerous, Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Kyle Clay said.

A family had to be rescued from their home in Seagoville, southeast of Dallas, because of rising water levels.

In Texas, concerns have been raised over the Trinity and Brazos rivers with more rain possible for Monday.

Most airports in the US enjoyed smoother weather conditions as tens of millions of Americans head home from the long holiday weekend.

Airlines For America estimated that more than 25 million passengers would take flights on US airlines during the 12 days around Thanksgiving.

Motoring group AAA estimated that another 47 million Americans would travel at least 50 miles over the weekend - the highest number since 2007.