During his weekly “Team Kentucky” update, Gov. Andy Beshear hinted at the very real possibility of the General Assembly reconvening in special session — as dire needs have surfaced in the eastern part of the Commonwealth following these catastrophic floods.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance has arrived for Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Whitley counties, and many buildings — most importantly schools — were simply destroyed.
The death toll from these storms has now reached 38, following the death of Knott County High School student-athlete Aaron Mick Crawford — who was assisting with cleanup efforts before succumbing to health complications.
Furthermore, two missing persons are still being sought in Breathitt County: 60-year-old Lost Creek citizen Vanessa Baker and 29-year-old Lost Creek citizen Nancy Cundiff.
Donations for the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund have now moved north of 31,600 unique donors and $5.2 million. A total of 35 funerals, equaling $350,000, have been handled without question. The Kentucky National Guard has handed out more than 39,000 bottles of water and 43,800 meals.
Beshear once again reiterated that used and new clothing items are not needed at this time. Storage space, instead, would be better used with building materials, foodstuffs, cleaning supplies and drinking water — as more than 35,000 service connections remain under a Boil Water Advisory.
Eastern Kentucky’s next big step: appropriately dealing with FEMA representatives and property loss claims, which Beshear said has been emotionally difficult.
Much like in west Kentucky, he’s asking citizens to appeal if their claim is denied.
Beshear said that all assessments on public bridges in the region are complete, with nearly 1,100 structures inventoried in the effort. Of those, 27 state and county bridges remain impassable, 32 bridges have been identified for replacement, and another 52 bridges have been pinpointed for repairs.
That’s more than 100 bridges affected in some fashion. More than 150 landslides and mudslides have been cleared from local and state roads, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has helped “overwhelmed” county road departments on nearly 100 county roads.
