Severe storms threaten millions across the East on Memorial Day following a weekend of destructive, deadly weather

(CNN) – Millions in the East are in the path of severe weather on Memorial Day after intense and deadly storms ravaged a large area of the central United States over the weekend. Destructive thunderstorms and tornadoes were responsible for at least 23 deaths over the long weekend, including four children, in parts of Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. The storms killed 15 in Arkansas and Texas alone. Another five people died in Kentucky. Related Stories Sunday was the busiest severe weather day of the year so far, with more than 600 reports of storm damage across at least 20 states, including tornadoes, wind gusts in excess of 75 mph and hail the size of softballs. Storms turned buildings into piles of rubble, damaged cars and brought down power lines. More than 450,000 homes and businesses in the central, southern and eastern U.S. still were without power in the wake of weekend storms Monday afternoon, according to PowerOutage.us. Harsh storms pummeled parts of Kentucky Sunday night and inflicted damage on some communities, prompting Gov. Andy Beshear to issue a state of emergency early Monday. Phone lines in the Bowling Green area were knocked out, leading police to set up...