Mhm. Alright, everybody welcome to this week’s team Kentucky update. Uh Today’s update is gonna be tough. Maybe even *** little awkward because it’s gonna be in two very different parts, but in many ways it’s like what we are all living through right now. The first part is going to be the challenge of today, just like our families are facing challenges of today, that’s going to focus on the devastating flooding going on in eastern Kentucky right now. The second part and we’re gonna do *** transition. That will be *** tough transition after the general speaks. But the second part is bright and optimistic And today we’re announcing over $700 million 400 new jobs in the Commonwealth. And so today we’re gonna need to support those that are living through the unimaginable at the moment and at the same time uh celebrate these companies that are investing in us and creating *** brighter future for our families. We all have to do this almost on *** daily basis right now, pushing through the challenges of inflation and and the continued pandemic and so many more things, while at the same time seeing what’s right around the corner. So I know we can do this too. Let me start by mentioning that the challenges of the flooding in eastern Kentucky only continue. Uh everything from power outages increasing to our first set of confirmed deaths in *** word, this event is devastating and I do believe it will end up being one of the most significant, deadly floods that we have had in Kentucky and at least *** very long time. They’re gonna be *** lot of people out there that need our help. There’s gonna be *** lot of people that are gonna be displaced and this is yet another disaster that is going to take some time to rebuild. But I want folks even though there are folks waiting to be rescued right now to know is we’re gonna be there for him today. I wanna talk about the resources that are being brought to bear. We’re going to be there for them once they’re safe and once they start thinking about what’s next as well. So counties that have issued declarations of states of emergencies. These are just the counties that have done it and we probably don’t have them all here. Perry County breath it county Clay Floyd lecture Owsley pike think the city of hazard has as well. But my state of emergency that I put into effect this morning is statewide. It allows us to go into counties that may not have declared their own but it lets us bring additional resources to bear. It is one of the ways that we deploy our National Guard and one of the ways that we are allowed to ask Washington D. C. For additional help. Now the toughest update this morning is we have our first set of confirmed deaths. There’s *** report that we have lost *** Perry County native, An 81 year old woman and we’ve had at least two other fatalities. Just confirmed one in Perry County And one and not counting. Let me say that unfortunately, I expect double digit deaths in this flooding. That’s something that we rarely see. It’s gonna take time as these come in. And as I’m gonna talk about in *** little bit, we have more rain tonight in some areas and we’re gonna need people to take some steps to keep them safe. Otherwise even the total that we expect could grow. This isn’t just *** disaster. It is an ongoing natural disaster. We are in the midst of it and for some places it’s going to continue through tonight. We hope not to continue too far after that though. There are possibilities of rain that continue power outages By number in in the county’s impact to 25,111. It’s anticipated that damage assessment and restoration will continue for several days. Dangerous flooding conditions and inaccessible areas slow the restoration process. So we’ve got *** lot of people that need help that we can’t get to at the moment. We will. But we also have uh different areas that we must reach to turn the power back on that people can’t reach. So it’s really hard to ask if people going through something like this. But we need *** little patience and *** little bit of grace because we want to make sure those utility workers are safe doing their job getting to the places that they need to get to Kentucky power as the most customers affected. 22835 lecture. Not perry pike breath it martin johnson Floyd counties all have 1000 or more customers without power. And if I didn’t list any of those counties in the states of emergency first, they’re covered by our overall one second. I’m sure that they have issued it. It’s just how we get information in to the E. O. C. And report it out Kentucky Army National Guard, Kentucky National Guard and General. Well we’ll hear from um General Lamberton here in *** minute but they have four aircraft conducting missions in the affected area and includes reconnaissance, communication, and hoist operations. And I think the general would tell you, I mean they see *** number of people in brevard county alone on the roof. Even we have some people in trees hanging on waiting for rescue. Those folks are working really hard. one limitation is how many aircraft have the hoist capabilities for that reason. Today I reached out to west Virginia’s governor and and General Lamberton reached out to their Adjutant General. They’re sending us to aircraft with those capabilities and we are grateful. Also talked to the White House today and mentioned our needs in that area and let me say the fema. Administrator contacted me personally. I had just gotten off *** plane and this was the first information that she wanted to get firsthand. We will have *** fema response team on the ground by tonight uh, in these areas we appreciate how quickly they’re moving. Two aircrafts are preparing to lift off from Frankfurt to Louisville to pick up equipment. What they’ll be getting our zodiac uh, boats. These will augment the fish and wildlife boats that are right now conducting rescues that will give us more capabilities uh, to help folks both today uh, and tomorrow have been over there personally with the National Guard and everybody I’m gonna be talking about. They’re working hard, they’re working fast. They are being as flexible as they can and they’re bringing every resource they have to, to, to bear Kentucky. State police is responding and actively searching for missing people. I will say that the troopers though are also directly affected by this flooding. Um, also challenges in getting to places that people need help If you have *** missing loved one in the counties of breath it not lecture or perry, Please don’t call 911 but call the K Sp post. This will help us to check in on them. That number is 6064356069. And this is because this post covers these counties. But let me say this again, it’s important because we want to make sure your loved one is out there and safe. What we found out in the tornadoes is sometimes we had assumed the worst. But then we got the miracle that we prayed for and were able to account for people. So if you are in breath it’s not lecture or perry and you can’t find *** loved one you believe they’re missing. Call 6064356069. And if it’s busy keep calling I hate to ask you to do that. But they’re getting *** lot of calls because of what they do and the amount of damage that is out here, no matter how long it takes you to get through. We need the name of your loved one and that information. So please get that two K. S. P. ***. Command staging area has been established at the Hazzard armory for emergency personnel only public should not travel to the affected areas until emergency personnel gives the all clear. Also wanna give *** big thank you to um our our deputy fire chief in Lexington who is also *** part time general in the National Guard through his leadership. We’re deploying um more votes out of Lexington, Fayette County to help. He’s over there in the E. E. O. C. With everybody Kentucky transportation cabinet not and Letcher County has been hit hard pike martin and Floyd counties are also sending reports of slides and high waters, extreme historic levels of flooding has been reported in Northern Perry County and southern brevard County crews are assessing the impacts that are faced with challenges they got down trees, they got mudslides and they’ve got staff that are flooded themselves that are trying to get to safety, which impacts the number of people that we can have out there. For instance, our lecture county maintenance facility is flooded and Cruz can’t even access some of their equipment crews are trying to help reopen roads where possible to help emergency responders access areas. So we’re sending lots of folks outside of this area into this area for those that live in the area that are responding right now. Please tell those folks, thank you because they are victims just like everybody else in this area. They very well could have lost their home and are out there helping out somebody else who has lost their home. So please think about those folks. We’re also seeing widespread water outages. This can occur because of *** loss of power. For instance, in martin County, we think that’s going to get up and running. That’s *** piece of good news, but this can also cause *** lot of water breaks. Think about the amount of water moving through the sewer or the pressure that the flood can cause. So, um the London, uh Oneida area has 300 to 400 customers affected. Manchester waterworks need the floodwaters to recede in order to work on leaks at this time. The road to the plant is blocked and workers had to walk to deal with the muddy water and the like *** boil water advisory will be issued once they are able to get further information from Haydn Leslie County Water District, the northern end of London is affected but progress is being held up by access again and communication issues. We have very spotty cell service. There are at least two of our major companies. I believe it’s both *** T. And T. And Verizon that we are in direct contact with that are trying to deploy their assets. Remember they gotta be able to get to somewhere safely though too to ultimately deploy that Boonville water and sewer advises around 70 customers are out of water and areas fed by Buffalo Creek. Um And and uh who flurry tanks outages are due to power outages and leaks but they’re still assessing that situation. Jackson Municipal waterworks plant is experiencing issues due to flooding at intake plant, controls possibly damage due to lighting plants operating it to decrease capacity system wide boil water advisory issued at this time, operators unable to assess damage due to high water and then the Whitesburg water system in Letcher County, the rivers over their raw water pump control panel. The plant is shut down and cannot be started until the floodwaters drop, cannot get to the plant safely. At this time they’re not aware of any other damage. They will have access using boat so let’s have one piece of good news martin County. I was over the E. E. O. C. When when their plant went down, we were talking about getting them *** generator. Their water should be restored by one p.m. eastern time. I think they’ve been able to get their power up and back on. So lot of widespread damage. I think we’re going to have *** number of deaths, roads completely washed out homes destroyed, schools, flooded buildings that or at least in the short term, gonna be uninhabitable. So we want to make sure people know where they can go, where we can provide you ultimately *** dry place. So anyone who’s been displaced three state parks have been open to receive you even though they are having their own impacts there, jenny Reilly State Park and Preston Zberg Pine Mountain State Park in Pineville and Buckhorn State Park in, in buckhorn. Now, each of these counties are also setting up different shelters. We’re gonna put out *** list of those because those are places that are going to need water and cleaning supplies and later today and we have this in the notes, we’ll be launching *** team Eastern Kentucky flooding relief fund. These families are going to need help, much like our families in Western Kentucky. They are also going through one of the worst disasters of this type that we have seen. So the Department for Medicaid services is working with our contracted managed care organizations and meta impact to ensure members impacted by the Eastern Kentucky flooding will have access to medications was also working directly with our department of public health today. They are monitoring and working with uh senior homes with nursing homes to make sure we have plans in place if they have to be evacuated to be able to do it safely. They are also in charge of tracking deaths for this. We have representatives from the corners association that’s with us directly in the E E O. C. Feeding us information, toughest news that I have for today is there is *** chance For maybe another 2-3″ tonight and maybe through the weekend we got light rain now scattered through this afternoon. It looks like most of the rain is gonna come overnight and that can be really dangerous right now. And this can change the predicted area includes McGough in pike Powell wolf johnson Floyd martin, it could reach laurel Clay Leslie. Listen, I could get *** lot. So folks, yeah the water is close to your house, if you are in *** place that that floods regularly or with *** lot of rain might flood. The ground is really saturated. If you’re in these areas or even close to them and you can go stay with somebody else tonight. Please do last night. Most likely we lost people in the middle of the night. Maybe even in their sleep, we want you to be safe. And so if you’re in these areas and you got family or friends or anybody, you gotta go stay in *** hotel somewhere throughout the night that you know will be safe. Please do it again. I already think we’re gonna have double digit deaths in this and I don’t wanna lose anybody else. And so anybody else out there who’s listening, who’s family are in these areas, call them right. Offer to put them up tonight. If they can get to you for those that are in areas that are fine. Good. But again, if you think that you’re facing danger, please uh, take that action. We we care about you and we know that this is coming. All right. *** couple of other tips and dealing with flooding. Watch your step. Floodwaters often hide sharp and dangerous debris like broken glass and metal. Floodwater can also be contaminated with oil, gasoline and sewage. Second, don’t drive two big amounts of standing water, especially in running water, which is what we’re seeing right now. We believe we may have had *** major truck, maybe even *** tractor trailer swept away, that we might have lost two people in. We’re waiting on confirmation of that. Don’t risk that. Right. Your life is way too important. Your family is way too important where appropriate protective clothing and gear such as boots, gloves and safety glasses when moving debris. Remember with more rain tonight. Now we can replace stuff. We can’t replace you stay away from electrical utility equipment after *** storm or if it’s wet. Report any utility issues to your company, utility company flooded homes are dangerous. Get *** professional to check for loose wires, mold and hidden damage before reentering. Use generators or other gas powered machinery. Only outdoors. I can’t tell you how many storms that we have had that everybody is gonna make it through, especially ice storms and then somebody puts *** generator in their attached garage or in their house or too close to their house and we’ll lose them through carbon monoxide poisoning. Let’s make sure that that doesn’t happen again. Never drive into *** road covered by flowing Water. one ft of flowing water can sweep *** car off the road to an suv or *** pickup. 6″ of water can knock you off your feet so don’t do it, don’t drown, respect barricades and posted signage if you encounter *** flooded road, turn around If you encounter *** dark traffic signal treated as *** four way stop. Alright. We are really um only about 12-13 hours into um when the rain really started pouring down but we wanted to take an important step Kentucky ins are tough, resilient good people who look out for one another and what we saw in response to the tornadoes and western Kentucky was pure love. We want to make sure we’re doing the same for the people of eastern Kentucky. So today we’re giving everyone an opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in eastern Kentucky by setting up the team Eastern Kentucky flood relief fund. The website for donations is under construction. We expect to have it up at four p.m. Today. The U. R. L. When it is ready will be Team E. K. Y. Flood relief dot ky dot gov. That is Team E ky flood relief fund dot ky dot gov. Donations can be made through the online portal and there’ll be additional instructions on the website. Again this will be *** fund that will be spent entirely to help the families that are impacted and it will not just be the immediate relief fund. We already have the red cross and R. E. O. C. I called their Ceo and talked to to to them this morning. We’ll have other folks like the united Way that are there when we set up this fund. It’s about the next year plus it’s gonna take to get these families back on their feet and just like the team Western Kentucky tornado relief fund, we will be transparent. We can show you how every dollar is allocated and all of them have gone to make *** difference. The money is not gonna be used for administrative costs. Uh though credit card processing fees may apply. Uh I know people are seeing the pictures, seeing the videos and they are gut wrenching. They’re hard to watch and I wish I could tell you why we keep getting hit here in Kentucky. I wish I could tell you why areas where, where people may not have that much, continue to get hit and lose everything. Can’t give you the why. But I know what we do in response to it. The answer is everything. We can, these are our people. Let’s make sure we help them out. Alright. I’m gonna turn it over to General Lamberton uh, for an update on guard activities and then we’re gonna make that very big transition. And I know it will be big talk about some really exciting economic development. We can face our challenges today. We can mourn for those that we have lost. We can be there for those that need our help while at the same time continuing to build *** bright future for Kentucky. General Good afternoon. Everybody as the governor share just *** little bit ago. This is *** rapidly evolving situation. We’re tracking more rain that’s on the horizon in the impacted area right now and and I share that in particular. What we’re striving to do is get ahead of this. So, so with the, the governor and I speaking is provide more resources, not just waiting until there’s an incident or an event that requires some sort of response to it, but pushing resources to the impacted area that we can be even more responsive than we currently are that the governor had alluded to. The aircraft that we’ve currently got working in the area, but we’ve got three, You ate 60 Blackhawks who are hoist capable, meaning they are actively engaged with picking up people off of the rooftops with extracting people from one school system in particular where folks have been tracked or trapped due to the situation. The governor also alluded to his having been in contact with the west Virginia Governor. We’ve been in contact with the National Guard out of west Virginia. They likewise are providing two additional helicopters also with hoist capability. We’ve also been in contact with the edged in general out of Tennessee. They are also providing helicopters with hoist capability. Is this just meeting to the need that that we’re tracking right now? No, it’s striving it again, to get ahead of what we anticipate the need. We’ve got eyes on the impacted area, especially in breath at county and around Jackson. What we’re striving to do is get greater awareness of the impacted area for all the surrounding counties that again, we can get ahead as far as the resources required with that response that the governor had also made mention, we’ve got what we call Zodiac boats. This is an inflatable rigid boat that’s often used in swiftwater response and rescue efforts. The Department of Fish and Wildlife. They’ve got some of their boats and crews currently engaged with it. We’re going to augment their efforts. What we’re bringing folks down from, uh, the air wing that’s based out of Louisville right now. And if you look up over you, you might see that those are going to be airlifted underneath our helicopters and they’re flying down there to enable them to get into the impacted area as quickly as possible along with the crews that are gonna man those boats. So as I just ship said what we’re striving to get as much in the way of resources to the impact area, get ahead of the situation. We do anticipate the response continuing for several days. Is the governor also identified? We have additional assets coming in from fema. They’re gonna work in our Emergency Operations Center and augment to the folks who are there. So, so we have not just in all of state government response, but we’ve got governmental response from our neighboring states, from our Brothers and Sisters in the adjacent National Guard states from other organizations that are even beyond the commonwealth’s borders. And once again, I know I’m being redundant but this is to get ahead of it resource wise that we have the capability of addressing whatever The situation on the ground warrants right now, but also being ahead of that situation for the next 24 48 plus hours. Thanks, sir. Right. Unintentionally omitted um, Fish and wildlife who are doing *** phenomenal job. I mean, they’ve got as many boats as they have. They’re bringing others from other places. Um working with them directly in the E. E. O. C. They’re gonna rescue *** lot of people. All right. Um Now it’s making that that tough transition, let’s say if you’re in one of these areas right now and you tuned in for information, it’s okay to turn it off. We’re gonna talk about uh some some other things um If you’re really focused on this and you should be it’s it’s okay to to um ultimately stop watching now, but as the governor.
How to help eastern Kentucky flood victims
Updated: 8:51 AM EDT Jul 29, 2022
Part of Kentucky was hit with another devastating weather disaster this week as rains came and flooded several counties in Appalachia. Deaths have already been reported, and the governor expects the toll to continue to grow.Rescue efforts are underway to save people trapped in homes, and shelters are popping up to help those displaced.Lots of people in the affected counties will need help, so we’re compiling a list of ways you can support them.Beshear says they are prioritizing monetary donations, cleaning supplies and bottled water. Here’s where you can donate money:Team Eastern Kentucky Flooding Relief FundThis was set up Thursday by the state to directly help families. Beshear announced it during his afternoon Team Kentucky update.Click here to donate If you would like to mail in a donation, make your check to Kentucky State Treasurer. In the memo line, note the donation is for the “Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.” Send the check to Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero Street, 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601.Foundation for Appalachian KentuckyThis foundation is collecting money in its crisis fund. Click here to donate | Learn more about the foundationEKY Mutual AidKentuckians for the Commonwealth say this group, a network of local residents, is collecting money as well. The group says the money will go directly to flood victims and local organizations in the affected areas.Click here to donateBeshear said the American Red Cross and United Way will also be helping the area. Beshear declared a state of emergency on Thursday. At least six counties have declared local states of emergency: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Letcher, Owsley and Pike.We will continue to update this story with resources.
Part of Kentucky was hit with another devastating weather disaster this week as rains came and flooded several counties in Appalachia.
Deaths have already been reported, and the governor expects the toll to continue to grow.
Rescue efforts are underway to save people trapped in homes, and shelters are popping up to help those displaced.
Lots of people in the affected counties will need help, so we’re compiling a list of ways you can support them.
Beshear says they are prioritizing monetary donations, cleaning supplies and bottled water.
Here’s where you can donate money:
Team Eastern Kentucky Flooding Relief Fund
This was set up Thursday by the state to directly help families. Beshear announced it during his afternoon Team Kentucky update.
If you would like to mail in a donation, make your check to Kentucky State Treasurer. In the memo line, note the donation is for the “Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund.” Send the check to Public Protection Cabinet, 500 Mero Street, 218 NC, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky
This foundation is collecting money in its crisis fund.
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth say this group, a network of local residents, is collecting money as well. The group says the money will go directly to flood victims and local organizations in the affected areas.
