(Prestonsburg) Rescue workers had to intervene on Thursday to save people trapped on their roofs by rapidly rising water levels in the central United States region of Appalachia, where torrential rains caused what the governor of Kentucky said called the worst flooding in his state’s history.
Posted at 12:15 p.m.
An emergency official in eastern Kentucky described a “catastrophic” situation as rescuers continued to search for victims. Governor Andy Beshear has warned that hundreds of properties may have been destroyed.
“At the end of the day, we’ll see heavy property damage,” Beshear said Thursday. We anticipate loss of life. Hundreds of people will lose their homes and it will take not months, but probably years for many families to rebuild and recover. »
Flash floods and mudslides have been reported in this mountainous region that encompasses eastern Kentucky, western Virginia and southern West Virginia, where thunderstorms dumped several inches of rain over the past last days.
The poweroutage.us website reports that more than 20,000 customers are without power in eastern Kentucky, and nearly 10,000 more in neighboring states.
“We are currently experiencing some of the most severe and devastating flooding in Kentucky’s history,” Beshear said. The situation continues to evolve. In most places, the water does not recede. In fact, in most places it hasn’t even peaked yet. »
“Several people in eastern Kentucky are on their roofs waiting to be rescued,” he added. He has several people who are missing and I’m pretty sure this is a situation where we’re going to lose some of them. »
The thunderstorms swept through a mountainous region where municipalities and homes are built on steep sides or in the valleys between them, where flowing streams can quickly swell.
Several roads in the region were impassable after some areas received up to 15 centimeters of rain as of Thursday. About 7.5 more centimeters were expected, according to the US National Weather Service.
Beshear said he has deployed the National Guard to the hardest hit locations. Three parks have been transformed into shelters for the victims.
Residents of Perry, Leslie and Clay counties were urged to take refuge at high ground after several responses from rescuers. Roads and bridges were swept away, and houses dislodged from their foundations, according to local press.
Rescuers also had to intervene in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, in particular when five campers found themselves trapped in the waters.