FRANKFORT, Ky. (BP) – At least 35 people have been confirmed dead due to devastating flooding that has hit the southeast part of the state, and Gov. Andy Beshear says the number will continue to grow in the coming days, as more areas become accessible.
As of 9 a.m. Monday, there are seven confirmed deaths in Breathitt County, two in Clay, 16 in Knott, two in Letcher, and three in Perry County.
The large loss of life has overwhelmed local authorities, according to the governor, forcing the State Medical Examiner’s Office to help in the disaster. “We’ve had to fly the bodies here to Frankfort, to have enough staff to perform the autopsies. We do have a refrigerated truck being used right now, because we don’t have enough morgue capacity.”
Beshear says there are more than 300 Kentucky National Guard members fulfilling a variety of roles to help residents in the disaster area.
“Delivering supplies, search and rescue, augmenting police, traffic, debris removal, they’re really good at it,” he stated. “Our Guard has been amazing. I got a chance to spend a moment without Guard that has been airlifting people. They were exhausted, but they were living their mission. They were ready to go again at a moment’s notice. We are so proud of them, State Police, Fish and Wildlife, law enforcement, and individual citizens who rescued more people than all those others combined.”
Click here to read more.
Source: Baptist Press
BCNN1 WP 