At least three people have died and hundreds are expected to lose their homes after torrential rains unleashed flash flooding and mudslides across eastern Kentucky. There were reports of flash flooding, mudslides and power outages across the mountainous region where thunderstorms have dumped several inches of rain over the past few days.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gave an update Thursday afternoon, confirmed at least 3 people have died from the catastrophic flooding. One was an 81-year-old woman from Perry County. The two others included one person from Perry County and another from Knott County. "Unfortunately, I expect double digit deaths in this flooding, that's something that we rarely see," Beshear said.Beshear called it "one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky's history" in an update Thursday morning."I do believe it will end up being one of the most significant deadly floods we have had in Kentucky in a least a very long time," Beshear said. He said the situation is dynamic and ongoing as most places are not seeing water recede with even more rain in the forecast. The governor said there has been "massive property damage.""Hundreds will lose their homes and this is going to be another event that will take not months, but years to recover from," Beshear said in the update.There are a number of people unaccounted for, Beshear said.A state of emergency has been issued for the state. The state has activated the National Guard to use helicopters and trucks to help residents get to safety."They see a number of people in Breathitt County alone on the roof, even some people in trees, hanging on, waiting for rescue," Beshear said. Beshear said they have also opened three state parks for those who lost their homes to take shelter."A lot of people waiting to be rescued, number of people unaccounted for, I'm nearly certain this is a situation where we are going to lose some of them," Beshear said. The governor stated he will be releasing locations for shelters, asking Kentuckians to help at shelters for water, cleaning supplies. “I’m asking everyone to pray. There are a lot of people out there who need help and are very scared right now. And we’re doing the very best we can to reach each and every one of them,” Beshear said.Over the past three days, areas in eastern Kentucky have seen nearly 10 inches of rain. In Buckhorn Lake, 10.4 inches of rain fell, in Oneida, 8.48 inches of rain fell, in Hazard, 7.71 inches of rain fell. In hard-hit Perry County in eastern Kentucky, rescue crews worked throughout the night helping people who were stranded.“It’s a catastrophic event," said Perry County emergency management director Jerry Stacy, 54. "I’ve lived here in Perry County all my life and this is by the far the worst event I’ve ever seen.”“We’re just in the rescue mode right now,” said, speaking with The Associated Press by phone as he struggled to reach his office in Hazard Thursday morning. “Extreme flash flooding and mudslides are just everywhere.”Poweroutage.us reported more than 20,000 power outages in eastern Kentucky, and nearly 10,000 more in southern West Virginia and among the mountains of western Virginia. At least six counties have declared local states of emergency: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Letcher, Owsley and Pike.Eastern Kentucky's Floyd County declared a local state of emergency due to significant rainfall and flooding, Beshear said. He said the Kentucky Emergency Management crews have been deployed there.In West Virginia's Greenbrier County, firefighters pulled people from flooded homes, and five campers who got stranded by high water in Nicholas County were rescued by the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department, WCHS-TV reported.Roads in many areas weren’t passable after as much as 6 inches (15 cms) of rain had fallen in some areas by Thursday, and 1-3 more inches (7.5 cms) could fall, the National Weather Service said. People in low areas in Perry, Leslie and Clay counties were urged to seek higher ground after multiple swift water rescues were reported.The Breathitt County courthouse was opened as an overnight shelter, and Emergency Management Director Chris Friley told WKYT-TV that the Old Montessori School would serve as a more permanent shelter once crews can staff it.“It’s the worst we’ve had in quite a while,” Friley said early Thursday. “It’s county-wide again. There’s several spots that are still not accessible to rescue crews.”Perry County dispatchers told WKYT-TV that floodwaters washed out roads and bridges and knocked homes off of their foundations. The city of Hazard posted on Facebook that crews were out all night helping people. The city urged drivers to stay off roads and to “pray for a break in the rain.” Residents in Breathitt, Knott, Fletcher or Perry counties are are searching for a loved, one call Kentucky State Police at 606-435-6069.
At least three people have died and hundreds are expected to lose their homes after torrential rains unleashed flash flooding and mudslides across eastern Kentucky.
There were reports of flash flooding, mudslides and power outages across the mountainous region where thunderstorms have dumped several inches of rain over the past few days.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gave an update Thursday afternoon, confirmed at least 3 people have died from the catastrophic flooding. One was an 81-year-old woman from Perry County. The two others included one person from Perry County and another from Knott County.
"Unfortunately, I expect double digit deaths in this flooding, that's something that we rarely see," Beshear said.
Beshear called it "one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky's history" in an update Thursday morning.
"I do believe it will end up being one of the most significant deadly floods we have had in Kentucky in a least a very long time," Beshear said.
He said the situation is dynamic and ongoing as most places are not seeing water recede with even more rain in the forecast.
The governor said there has been "massive property damage."
"Hundreds will lose their homes and this is going to be another event that will take not months, but years to recover from," Beshear said in the update.
There are a number of people unaccounted for, Beshear said.
A state of emergency has been issued for the state. The state has activated the National Guard to use helicopters and trucks to help residents get to safety.
"They see a number of people in Breathitt County alone on the roof, even some people in trees, hanging on, waiting for rescue," Beshear said.
Beshear said they have also opened three state parks for those who lost their homes to take shelter.
"A lot of people waiting to be rescued, number of people unaccounted for, I'm nearly certain this is a situation where we are going to lose some of them," Beshear said.
The governor stated he will be releasing locations for shelters, asking Kentuckians to help at shelters for water, cleaning supplies.
“I’m asking everyone to pray. There are a lot of people out there who need help and are very scared right now. And we’re doing the very best we can to reach each and every one of them,” Beshear said.
Over the past three days, areas in eastern Kentucky have seen nearly 10 inches of rain. In Buckhorn Lake, 10.4 inches of rain fell, in Oneida, 8.48 inches of rain fell, in Hazard, 7.71 inches of rain fell.
In hard-hit Perry County in eastern Kentucky, rescue crews worked throughout the night helping people who were stranded.
“It’s a catastrophic event," said Perry County emergency management director Jerry Stacy, 54. "I’ve lived here in Perry County all my life and this is by the far the worst event I’ve ever seen.”
“We’re just in the rescue mode right now,” said, speaking with The Associated Press by phone as he struggled to reach his office in Hazard Thursday morning. “Extreme flash flooding and mudslides are just everywhere.”
Poweroutage.us reported more than 20,000 power outages in eastern Kentucky, and nearly 10,000 more in southern West Virginia and among the mountains of western Virginia.
At least six counties have declared local states of emergency: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Letcher, Owsley and Pike.
Eastern Kentucky's Floyd County declared a local state of emergency due to significant rainfall and flooding, Beshear said. He said the Kentucky Emergency Management crews have been deployed there.
In West Virginia's Greenbrier County, firefighters pulled people from flooded homes, and five campers who got stranded by high water in Nicholas County were rescued by the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department, WCHS-TV reported.
Roads in many areas weren’t passable after as much as 6 inches (15 cms) of rain had fallen in some areas by Thursday, and 1-3 more inches (7.5 cms) could fall, the National Weather Service said. People in low areas in Perry, Leslie and Clay counties were urged to seek higher ground after multiple swift water rescues were reported.
The Breathitt County courthouse was opened as an overnight shelter, and Emergency Management Director Chris Friley told WKYT-TV that the Old Montessori School would serve as a more permanent shelter once crews can staff it.
“It’s the worst we’ve had in quite a while,” Friley said early Thursday. “It’s county-wide again. There’s several spots that are still not accessible to rescue crews.”
Perry County dispatchers told WKYT-TV that floodwaters washed out roads and bridges and knocked homes off of their foundations. The city of Hazard posted on Facebook that crews were out all night helping people. The city urged drivers to stay off roads and to “pray for a break in the rain.”
Residents in Breathitt, Knott, Fletcher or Perry counties are are searching for a loved, one call Kentucky State Police at 606-435-6069.
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