Torrential rains unleashed flash flooding and mudslides in central Appalachia, damage a Kentucky emergency official described as “catastrophic” on Thursday as rescue crews searched rising waters for stranded people.There were reports of flash flooding, mudslides and power outages across the mountainous region where thunderstorms have dumped several inches of rain over the past few days. Flood watches and warnings were in effect.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called it “one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky’s history” in an update Thursday morning.Beshear said the situation is dynamic and ongoing as most places are not seeing any relief any time soon.In his update, the governor said there has been “massive property damage.””We expect the loss of life, hundreds will lose their homes and this is going to be another event that will take not months, but years to recover from,” Beshear said in the update.He said he’s been talking with emergency management officials, Red Cross, activated national guard and signed state of emergency.”We are going to be here for them, we want to help,” Beshear said.The state has activated the National Guard to use helicopters and trucks to help residents get to safety.Beshear said they have also opened three state parks for those who lost their homes to take shelter.”A lot of people waiting to be rescued, number of people unaccounted for, I’m nearly certain this is a situation where we are going to lose some of them,” Beshear said. The governor stated he will be releasing locations for shelters, asking Kentuckians to help at shelters for water, cleaning supplies. Over the past three days, areas in eastern Kentucky have seen nearly 10 inches of rain. In Buckhorn Lake, 10.4 inches of rain fell, in Oneida, 8.48 inches of rain fell, in Hazard, 7.71 inches of rain fell.In hard-hit Perry County in eastern Kentucky, rescue crews worked throughout the night helping people who were stranded.“It’s a catastrophic event,” said Perry County emergency management director Jerry Stacy, 54. “I’ve lived here in Perry County all my life and this is by the far the worst event I’ve ever seen.”“We’re just in the rescue mode right now,” said, speaking with The Associated Press by phone as he struggled to reach his office in Hazard Thursday morning. “Extreme flash flooding and mudslides are just everywhere.”Poweroutage.us reported more than 20,000 power outages in eastern Kentucky, and nearly 10,000 more in southern West Virginia and among the mountains of western Virginia.Several counties are under a local state of emergency.Eastern Kentucky’s Floyd County declared a local state of emergency due to significant rainfall and flooding, Beshear said. He said the Kentucky Emergency Management crews have been deployed there.In West Virginia’s Greenbrier County, firefighters pulled people from flooded homes, and five campers who got stranded by high water in Nicholas County were rescued by the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department, WCHS-TV reported.Roads in many areas weren’t passable after as much as 6 inches (15 cms) of rain had fallen in some areas by Thursday, and 1-3 more inches (7.5 cms) could fall, the National Weather Service said. People in low areas in Perry, Leslie and Clay counties were urged to seek higher ground after multiple swift water rescues were reported.The Breathitt County courthouse was opened as an overnight shelter, and Emergency Management Director Chris Friley told WKYT-TV that the Old Montessori School would serve as a more permanent shelter once crews can staff it.“It’s the worst we’ve had in quite a while,” Friley said early Thursday. “It’s county-wide again. There’s several spots that are still not accessible to rescue crews.”Perry County dispatchers told WKYT-TV that floodwaters washed out roads and bridges and knocked homes off of their foundations. The city of Hazard posted on Facebook that crews were out all night helping people. The city urged drivers to stay off roads and to “pray for a break in the rain.”

Torrential rains unleashed flash flooding and mudslides in central Appalachia, damage a Kentucky emergency official described as “catastrophic” on Thursday as rescue crews searched rising waters for stranded people.

There were reports of flash flooding, mudslides and power outages across the mountainous region where thunderstorms have dumped several inches of rain over the past few days. Flood watches and warnings were in effect.

.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called it “one of the worst, most devastating flooding events in Kentucky’s history” in an update Thursday morning.

Beshear said the situation is dynamic and ongoing as most places are not seeing any relief any time soon.

In his update, the governor said there has been “massive property damage.”

“We expect the loss of life, hundreds will lose their homes and this is going to be another event that will take not months, but years to recover from,” Beshear said in the update.

He said he’s been talking with emergency management officials, Red Cross, activated national guard and signed state of emergency.

“We are going to be here for them, we want to help,” Beshear said.

The state has activated the National Guard to use helicopters and trucks to help residents get to safety.

.

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Flooding in eastern Kentucky

Beshear said they have also opened three state parks for those who lost their homes to take shelter.

“A lot of people waiting to be rescued, number of people unaccounted for, I’m nearly certain this is a situation where we are going to lose some of them,” Beshear said.

The governor stated he will be releasing locations for shelters, asking Kentuckians to help at shelters for water, cleaning supplies.

Over the past three days, areas in eastern Kentucky have seen nearly 10 inches of rain. In Buckhorn Lake, 10.4 inches of rain fell, in Oneida, 8.48 inches of rain fell, in Hazard, 7.71 inches of rain fell.

In hard-hit Perry County in eastern Kentucky, rescue crews worked throughout the night helping people who were stranded.

“It’s a catastrophic event,” said Perry County emergency management director Jerry Stacy, 54. “I’ve lived here in Perry County all my life and this is by the far the worst event I’ve ever seen.”

“We’re just in the rescue mode right now,” said, speaking with The Associated Press by phone as he struggled to reach his office in Hazard Thursday morning. “Extreme flash flooding and mudslides are just everywhere.”

.

Poweroutage.us reported more than 20,000 power outages in eastern Kentucky, and nearly 10,000 more in southern West Virginia and among the mountains of western Virginia.

Several counties are under a local state of emergency.

Eastern Kentucky’s Floyd County declared a local state of emergency due to significant rainfall and flooding, Beshear said. He said the Kentucky Emergency Management crews have been deployed there.

In West Virginia’s Greenbrier County, firefighters pulled people from flooded homes, and five campers who got stranded by high water in Nicholas County were rescued by the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department, WCHS-TV reported.

Roads in many areas weren’t passable after as much as 6 inches (15 cms) of rain had fallen in some areas by Thursday, and 1-3 more inches (7.5 cms) could fall, the National Weather Service said. People in low areas in Perry, Leslie and Clay counties were urged to seek higher ground after multiple swift water rescues were reported.

The Breathitt County courthouse was opened as an overnight shelter, and Emergency Management Director Chris Friley told WKYT-TV that the Old Montessori School would serve as a more permanent shelter once crews can staff it.

“It’s the worst we’ve had in quite a while,” Friley said early Thursday. “It’s county-wide again. There’s several spots that are still not accessible to rescue crews.”

Perry County dispatchers told WKYT-TV that floodwaters washed out roads and bridges and knocked homes off of their foundations. The city of Hazard posted on Facebook that crews were out all night helping people. The city urged drivers to stay off roads and to “pray for a break in the rain.”



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