It’s day two of historic flooding in eastern Kentucky, and in Friday’s early update from Governor Andy Beshear, he noted that 16 people are confirmed dead from the treacherous waters — with more likely coming.
As of mid-day Friday, that total had risen to 20.
After requesting assistance Thursday night, Beshear and the Commonwealth received a letter from U.S. President Joe Biden this morning — granting a federal state of emergency in 13 counties.
Much like eight months ago in west Kentucky, Beshear called it some of the fastest federal response in his lifetime.
Ten shelters have already been erected in the area, four from the American Red Cross and six others locally, and three state parks — Jenny Wiley, Pine Mountain and Buckhorn — have been converted into refuges. Beshear said more than 330 displaced guests are sheltered, and more than 290 civilians have been rescued to this point.
Many cell phone towers are understandably down in the region.
Twelve counties and three cities have declared local states of emergency, as well, and U.S. National Guard units from Tennessee and West Virginia arrived late Thursday night and early Friday to help with ongoing rescue operations — as waters continue to rise in certain areas, and recede in others.
Beshear noted that many routes within the Mountain Parkway remain impassable, including KY 7 in Letcher County, but roads remain clear between Jackson and Hazard to offer a pipeline of support and response.
With the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund opening online Thursday, Beshear said more than 1,300 donations totaling $229,000 have arrived to the communities — all of which will be transparent and dispersed to needed parties.
Among one of the more touching moments in this disaster came Friday morning, when Beshear said he received a phone call from Mayfield Mayor Kathy O’Nan.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell arrived in Kentucky Friday morning.
Per WKYT Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey, the North Fork of the Kentucky River at Jackson in Breathitt County has reached its highest level ever recorded at 43.16 feet. The last time it was at nearly that high: February 1939.
