LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday that the death toll from devastating floods in eastern Kentucky has risen to 25, and at least six children have died. He expects the number of fatalities to increase.
Recovery efforts are ramping up as floodwaters recede. But conditions were too treacherous Friday for Beshear to survey flooding damage on the ground. Instead, he and federal officials opted for an aerial tour over Breathitt and Perry counties.
Beshear said after the helicopter flight over the flooded areas that "this is by far the worst" flooding he's seen. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called the survey "true devastation."
"We saw many homes that are still inundated that the water has not receded," Criswell said. "We also saw homes that I think will have access issues for some time, just because the roads are out and bridges are out. And so we know that is some significant impact for the areas that we just flew over."
Beshear detailed what they saw on the aerial tour including many areas still under water including Jackson in Breathitt County. But he said they also witnessed search and recovery efforts that continue to get people to safety.
IMAGES | Floods leave devastating damage in eastern Kentucky
Heavy rains flooded parts of eastern Kentucky including Knott County. Image from video courtesy Lex18. July 28, 2022.
"We've got to act quickly once the water recedes tomorrow and certainly before it rains again," Beshear said. "But once the water goes down in any of these areas, we can do a lot more. We can check on a lot more people. We can go door to door and make sure everybody is OK."
But he admits the news won't likely be good.
"From everything we've seen, we may be updating a count of how many we lost for several weeks," Beshear said. "In some of these areas, we might not have an exact number, and some of the people who live in these area may not have an exact number."
President Joe Biden on Friday approved an initial request for a disaster declaration in 13 Kentucky counties including Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolf Counties. Federal funding is critical to recovery efforts for Kentuckians impacted by the historic flooding.
A state of emergency has been declared statewide in Kentucky, but 12 counties and two cities have declared local emergencies. In a briefing Friday morning, Beshear was also joined by Criswell, who detailed the federal response to the flooding.
"We are committed to making sure that we first focus on the life safety mission as there are still so many people who are unaccounted for," Criswell said.
FEMA has brought in additional search and rescue teams to help those already on the ground, and Criswell praised the rescue efforts.
"How incredible the first responders are," she said. "It's just remarkable how so many people have gone out to help save lives, who many of them often we know are impacted by these events as well."
Criswell said FEMA will be in Kentucky to support residents through the recovery process. She advised those impacted by the flooding to start assessing damage as soon as it's safe.
"Please start to document the damage, and take photos of the damage. That way, we'll have that information as we're looking to add additional assistance," Criswell advised.
Beshear said the danger isn't over. Water hasn't crested in some areas, and more rain is in the forecast for early next week. He believes the death toll will go higher. He said Knott County has 11 deaths including two children, Letcher and Clay County each had two deaths and one person died in Perry County. In his second briefing Friday, Beshear said he had just gotten word that the bodies of four more children had been found, but he did not have additional information.
"To all the families that know that you have sustained a loss, we are going to grieve with you. We're going to support you, and we're going to support you -- not just in the weeks -- but the years to come," Beshear said.
The governor said there is no accurate way to know how many people may be missing or unaccounted for. Beshear said communication is spotty because of a lack of cell service, so they are hoping the public will report missing loved ones to Kentucky State Police instead of calling 911.
- If you wish to report a missing loved one in the counties of Breathitt, Perry, Knott, Letcher or Leslie counties, contact Post 13 Hazard at 606-435-6069.
- If you wish to report a missing loved one in the counties of Magoffin, Johnson, Martin, Floyd, or Pike counties, contact Post 9 Pikeville at 606-433-7711
- If you wish to report a missing loved one in the counties of Jackson, Owsley, or Lee counties, contact Post 7 Richmond at 859-623-2404
- If you wish to report a missing loved one in the counties of Wolfe or Morgan counties, contact Post 8 Morehead at 606-784-4127
- If you wish to report a missing loved one in Harlan County, contact Post 10 Harlan at 606-573-3131
"Continue to hope. Continue to pray, and we will try to get as many people connected as possible," Beshear said.
Kentucky Emergency Management is monitoring a dam in danger of a breach in the city of Jackson. Beshear said people were evacuated from the Pan Bowl Lake area on Thursday night, when officials felt a breach was imminent. He said they now believe the dam may hold, but emergency crews are evacuating as many people who are willing to go.
[How to help eastern Kentucky residents recovering from deadly flooding]
Nearly 300 people have been rescued from flood waters, and Beshear said 337 are staying in shelters. There are 10 shelters set up including four by the American Red Cross.
Beshear said Kentucky State Parks are opening three facilities to help shelter people. At least 124 are staying at Jenny Wiley. Pine Mountain State Park has rooms available, and he said Buck Horn State Park in Perry County is a "struggle to get to" and has not power, but it will be up and running soon.
Krystal Holbrook's family started moving possessions to higher ground long before dawn, racing to save them from the rapidly rising floodwaters that were menacing southeastern Kentucky.
Her family scurried in the dark to move vehicles, campers, trailers and equipment. But as the water kept rising Thursday, they began to worry that they might run out of higher ground.
"We felt we had most of it moved out of the way," Holbrook said. "But right now, we're still moving vehicles to even higher ground. Higher ground is getting a little bit difficult."
The same was true throughout the region, as another round of rainfall loomed in an area already hammered by days of torrential rainfall. The storm sent water gushing from hillsides and surging out of streambeds in Appalachia, inundating homes, businesses and roads. Rescue crews used helicopters and boats to pick up people trapped by floodwaters. Parts of western Virginia and southern West Virginia were also hit by flooding.
Beshear warned that property damage in Kentucky would be extensive.
"You've seen the pictures. Just like the tornado, a lot of these houses are just gone. And even if some of the houses are still there, they may be uninhabitable moving forward," he said.
Kentucky has opened an online portal for donations that would go to residents affected by the flooding. Beshear said the website for the Team Eastern Kentucky Relief Fund will be run by the state and be fully transparent to show where "every dollar has gone." A similar site was set up following the tornadoes in western Kentucky in December 2021.
"Kentuckians, obviously, are tough, resilient people. We are also generous. The people impacted by this are going to lose just about everything, and we believe that there will be thousands that have been impacted."
Beshear said he was touched to get a phone call from Mayfield, Kentucky Mayor Kathy Stewart O'Nan and Fire Chief Jeremy Creason, who helped lead recovery efforts from the western Kentucky tornadoes. They offered to help the people of eastern Kentucky.
"Think about the amount of work we're still doing in Mayfield. They're driving to eastern Kentucky with an ambulance and some of their other equipment to help. What they wanted to pass along, is that this Commonwealth was there for them, when they were hit by the unimaginable, and they're going to be there for the people of eastern Kentucky who are facing the same."
Record flooding has destroyed some of Kentucky's poorest towns.
Beshear said there are some organizations starting to collect bottled water and cleaning supplies, but he urged people not to collect clothing or other items yet.
The governor also said the state is in a search and rescue mode that needs to be handled by professionals, so Beshear asked that individuals and organizations not drive into the flooded areas to volunteer without contacting local emergency management.
"We're going to need volunteers for a lot. But we're going to need them in the days and the weeks to come. That's one of the challenges with all of these is that the whole world wants to help when it's happening and the day after, but when the families really need us and are cleaning out the house, after the water has receded and are rebuilding the house. When we reach that stage, we may end up needing volunteers to help those that we are sheltering during this," said Beshear.
Beshear said the best way to truly help is by making a donation to the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund. He said that will help get money where it is needed for everything from funerals to rebuilding.
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- How to help eastern Kentucky residents recovering from deadly flooding
- Heavy rains cause 'catastrophic' flooding in eastern Kentucky leaving 8 dead, National Guard mobilized
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