LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Nearly a foot of rain has devastated portions of eastern Kentucky this week, leaving more than a dozen people dead and a community working to rescue neighbors before cleanup can even begin.

Recovery efforts will ramp up as floodwaters recede, but more rain is expected over the weekend. Conditions were too treacherous Friday morning for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to survey flooding damage on the ground. Instead, he and federal officials opted for an aerial tour over Breathitt County.

As of 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Beshear said 25 people are confirmed dead. But others remain unaccounted for, so that number is, unfortunately, expected to rise.

President Joe Biden 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.

IMAGES | Floods leave devastating damage in eastern Kentucky

If you're looking to help, here are the best organizations to use:

  • Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky: Click here to donate
  • Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund: Click here to donate
  • Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation Flood Relief Fund: Click here to donate
    • You can also drop off cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items and water at the ARH Lexington office at 2260 Executive Drive
      • Thursday and Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
      • Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Kentucky Department of Agriculture
    • You can drop off bottled water, toiletries and non-perishable at 105 Corporate Drive, Suite A in Frankfort
      • Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Aug. 5
      • Questions? Call 502-573-0282
  • American Red Cross in Kentucky: Click here to donate
  • The Louisville Bats are holding a bottled water and canned good drive on July 31 at 1:05 p.m. The team is also holding an online auction for a signed Jack Harlow Bats jersey with proceeds going to the Team Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.
  • Taylorsville Police Department, along with Taylorsville Community Church, Taylorsville-Spencer County Fire Department, Spencer County EMS and the Spencer County Sheriffs Office
    • You can drop off bottled water, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and non-perishables at Taylorsville City Hall Annex beside City Hall at 70 Taylorsville Rd. Taylorsville, KY 40071 on July 29th, 30th and 31st between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm.

Luke Glaser, a Louisville native who now teaches at Hazard High School while also serving as a Hazard city commissioner, said eastern Kentucky is a resilient region, and they're ready to help each other.

"Hardship is nothing new to people," he said. "Natural disasters are, unfortunately, nothing new to this area. Maybe not to this extent, but it's not the first time we've rolled up our sleeves and helped our neighbors ...

"We're in help-your-neighbor mode down here, which is kind of a default setting. I'm just constantly overwhelmed by the kindness of people and the ability of those to give who often don't have as much as some other people."

Eastern Kentucky Strong T-Shirt

To buy your shirt and donate to the people of eastern Kentucky, click here.

Glaser said people on the ground appreciate everyone trying to help, but what they need right now is money. If you can, donate to one of the organizations above, and the money will go directly to those who most need it.

Local companies are also looking to lend a hand, like Morehead-based apparel company "New Frontier." Co-founder Joshua Ravensraft created an "Eastern Kentucky Strong" shirt shortly after the flooding began. It's available online for $20 at the link above. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky.

"I started seeing images of family members and friends posting about the flooding, and it was an immediate decision from us to act," Ravenscraft said. "We aren't  focused on numbers or a certain amount of tees. Whatever it may be, give back in any manner even, if it's in a small way. It's important."

The most important thing, Glaser said, is not to forget about them when the water recedes.

"Don't forget us in the next couple of weeks or months, because that's when we're going to need help. That's when homes are going to need rebuilt. That's when we're going to need resources to build and clean homes," he said. "Yes, right now, it's very important you keep us in mind. It's very important you donate. We appreciate your prayers. But in the next couple weeks, if you're looking for a volunteer opportunity or if your church is looking for a volunteer opportunity, we could always use you. So keep us in mind over the next couple weeks and months."

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