Three dead in record flooding in

US Midwestern states

Thawing snowpack and heavy rains have brought historically high

flooding to several Midwestern states and have led to thousands of
evacuations.

Three people have died, including a man who officials say was trying to
rescue strangers from freezing flood waters.

Record-breaking flooding in at least five states has led to emergency

declarations. Several communities have been cut off from outside help.

It follows a powerful winter storm that slammed the US last week.

A hurricane-like weather phenomenon that scientists call a "bomb cyclone"

hit the western Rocky Mountains and US Central Plains last week, showering
snow and freezing rains on millions of Americans in Iowa, Nebraska,
Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota.