BUCKHORN, Ky. – Devastated communities across eastern Kentucky began digging out Sunday as the state’s death toll rose to 26 and another round of storms threatened to expand the historic flooding.
Dozens of people remained unaccounted for, and some areas were inaccessible to search-and-rescue teams. Spotty cellphone service added to the chaos.
Signs of survival and heroism were everywhere, Gov. Andy Beshear said.
“Many people that have lost everything, but they’re not even getting goods for themselves, they’re getting them for other people in their neighborhoods, making sure that their neighbors are OK,” Beshear said.
Excessive runoff from showers and thunderstorms Sunday and Monday could result in additional flooding of rivers, creeks and streams across much of central and eastern Kentucky, the National Weather Service warned. Rainfall rates of up to 2 inches an hour could spark flash flooding, especially in areas that see repeated rounds of thunderstorms.
Hard-hit counties, including Floyd, Knott and Perry, were under alert. Power, water, shelter and cell service are major issues in some communities, Beshear said. The flooding overwhelmed neighborhoods where people didn’t have much to begin with, he said, and a heat wave forecast this week will deepen the suffering.
The flooding caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage and displaced hundreds of people, he said.
“We want to make sure that we wrap our arms around our eastern Kentucky brothers and sisters and make sure that they are OK,” Beshear said. “We will be there for you today, tomorrow, next week, next year. We are not going anywhere. We are going to help you rebuild.”
Beshear asked that people donate cleaning supplies or water or donate directly to the state flood relief fund, where 100% of donations go to Kentuckians affected.
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►Where is the flooding? See photos, drone videos of the devastation
Almost a foot of rain; more is coming
The hardest hit areas of eastern Kentucky received almost a foot of rain late last week. The North Fork of the Kentucky River reached 20.9 feet in Whitesburg, more than 6 feet over the previous record, and crested at a record 43.5 feet in Jackson, National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Bonds said.
The rains of Sunday and Monday won’t be the end of it, the weather service warned. Thunderstorms are possible Tuesday, as well as Thursday through Saturday.
A dozen shelters opened for flood victims across the state drew 388 occupants Sunday, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. About 70 trailers – purchased by the state for use during deadly tornadoes that ripped through western Kentucky in December – were deployed as temporary shelters.
“Yesterday, our first travel trailers arrived, and we are working fast to establish additional shelter options,” Beshear said.
The state plans to work with area hotels to pay room costs for displaced residents – and to cover funeral expenses for people killed in the floods.
Searchers go door to door
More than 1,200 rescues took place. State police posts got calls from people unable to contact family and friends. The National Guard was called out and is helping first responders go door to door to find as many people as possible, Beshear said. The heavy rains make it difficult, and some people cannot be reached, he said.
Damage to critical infrastructure challenges rescuers. Scores of bridges are out and roads washed away, making it hard to access communities to deliver desperately needed water and other necessities.
“The next couple days are going to be hard,” Beshear said. “We’ve got rain, and maybe even a lot of rain that is going to hit the same areas.”
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Read More: Kentucky residents brace for more flooding; death toll rises to 26