Kentucky Death Toll Rises After Floods, Freezing Temps

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(TNS) — The death toll from flooding and frigid temperatures across Kentucky earlier this month has jumped to 22 victims, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday morning.

The latest death was a man from Marshall County, who died from hypothermia, Beshear said.

“This has been a painful, difficult natural disaster. There aren’t many natural disasters where we lose 22 people,” Beshear said in a news conference. “After the widespread flooding in 2022 and the tornadoes in 2021, this is one of the most deadly disasters certainly since I’ve been governor.”

Beshear announced six new deaths Friday and Saturday. The 22 deaths were reported in Caldwell, Clay, Floyd, Hardin, Hart, Jefferson, Livingston, Logan, Morgan, Nelson, Ohio, Pike, Scott, Washington and Warren counties.

Anyone interested in supporting recovery efforts is encouraged to donate to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund. Beshear said the fund has raised $300,689 from 3,100 donors.

The money raised from the fund will first be used to cover funeral expenses before helping in other recovery efforts.

“Every single penny goes to those that have been harmed or those that have been lost through this flooding and the severe weather around it,” Beshear said. “Not one cent will be used for administrative fees, with the exception of credit card processing that can occur if that’s how you give online.”

Every one of Kentucky’s 120 counties reported flooding after 3-to-8 inches of rain fell on the state beginning the night of Feb. 14 prompting more than 1,000 emergency rescues in the first 24 hours.

Other flood updates

The Kentucky Emergency Management Operation Center has received 460 requests pertaining to storm recovery efforts, Beshear said. Of those, 279 have been completed, and the requests include damage assessment teams, dehumidifiers, mold cleaning solution, personal hygiene kits, spray bottles and water.

Recent requests have featured clean-up tools, garbage bags and propane adapter hoses. Beshear said the state has already sent 65 trucks of water, five trucks of “ready-to-eat” meals and one truck of blankets to the impacted communities.

About 53% of the requests have come from Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Martin, Perry and Pike counties.

“That shows you, even with half of the requests coming from those counties, how widespread that this natural disaster was,” Beshear said. “Not hitting just one region, hitting all of Kentucky, even though it hit some parts harder than others.”

The application for FEMA individual assistance is still pending. Beshear surveyed the damage and predicted the application should be easily approved.

“This federal assistance is essential to those that have been harmed by this flood, and we know those numbers are in the hundreds,” Beshear said.

The Red Cross is doing its own damage assessment of the impacted communities. That survey is about 65% of the way completed and has determined 749 homes were damaged, including 25 that were significantly damaged or destroyed.

The Red Cross also has provided 5,600 items to 2,500 households in need, according to Beshear.

“Recovery in Kentucky will take time,” the governor said. “The Red Cross has promised to be there every step of the way.”