Floyd, other counties begin recovery efforts following devastating flooding
By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor
PRESTONSBURG — Floyd County is in recovery mode following devastating flooding last week that left several areas of the county in shambles.
Floyd was one of several Eastern Kentucky counties hit by high water, and it was the hardest hit in the Big Sandy region.
Johnson and Martin counties also experienced some flooding, but not to the extent as their neighboring Floyd County.
“If things weren’t hard enough on the people of this region, they’re getting rain right now,” Gov. Andy Beshear said during a press conference Monday morning, noting that Floyd, Magoffin, Knott and Pike counties remained under a flash flood warning. “There is severe storm potential today in all of the impacted areas, and that is just not right. The most risk is on the northernmost point of the impacted areas, but it is very unstable.”
A heavy downpour Monday morning added to Floyd County’s water woes, with Sheriff John Hunt reporting that water was “back over the road in Wayland and other parts of the county as well.” Highway District 12 said that water was also over several sections of Ky. 1427 in the county.
Williams said Monday that areas of the county affected the most by flooding were Right Beaver from “Martin all the way to Wayland,” which includes Garrett, Maytown and Lackey, as well as the Left Beaver area, which includes McDowell, Weeksbury.
He also said the Cow Creek area was flooded last Monday night, July 25.
No flood-related deaths were reported in Floyd County, but four other Eastern Kentucky counties were not so fortunate. A total of 30 deaths had been reported Monday morning, including 16 in neighboring Knott County, three in Perry County, seven in Breathitt County, and two each in Letcher and Clay counties.
“Those counties are annihilated,” Floyd County Judge-Executive Robbie Williams said in a Facebook video Monday morning. “I don’t know how they come back. All the roads are destroyed. There are people still trapped in these hollers. We’re telling folks if you live close to these counties or you have family members or friends, get in trucks, take the chainsaws and go help these people. They need help in those surrounding counties. We have a good handle here in Floyd County.”
Williams credited local swift-water rescue teams with saving lives in Floyd County.
“We know of at least 70 lives they saved, the swift-water rescue teams,” Williams said. “They did an excellent job. I’m so proud of these folks. We had no loss of lives here in Floyd County, and that was due to these folks. I promise you, if we didn’t have them, we would’ve had several people that would have drowned.”
Floyd, Knott, Letcher, Perry, Breathitt and Clay counties have been approved for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Williams urged affected residents to call his office at 886-9193 to be put on the FEMA assessment list.
Williams said Monday that the Martin County Community Center is a designated shelter for residents who have lost their homes to flooding. He also said Jenny Wiley State Resort Park is also offering free rooms to affected residents.
The state Transportation Cabinet said Tuesday that rising water levels at Dewey Lake were affecting state and local roadways in and around Jenny Wiley State Resort Park.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that the current lake elevation is 665.08 feet, with water gates remaining at minimum flow due to downstream flooding. This will cause the lake level to rise, which means area roadways are impassable or may become impassable.
As of Tuesday morning, Ky. 194, the German Bridge area, was impassable; Ky 302 around the lake was partially blocked and will become impassable as water levels rise, the cabinet said; the road leading to May Lodge was impassable; and all boat ramps are not usable at this time.
Motorists should use caution, obey posted road closure signs and barriers, and never drive through flooded roadways.
In Johnson County, Judge-Executive Mark McKenzie said the flooding situation was not bad.
“Current river levels are manageable at this point,” McKenzie said Monday on WSIP Radio. “We’re not really that close to flood on river levels, but we all know we received the water from Floyd and Pike counties on the Levisa Fork, so that obviously can change. It has been rising some throughout the day today, so we are monitoring that.”
With hundreds of Eastern Kentuckians without power due to the flooding, Beshear announced on Tuesday eight cooling centers in the region.
“In the next few days there is only an isolated threat of rain, but extreme heat is a concern, which is dangerous for those without power, especially seniors and other vulnerable individuals,” a release from his office said. “The heat index is expected to peak near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some locations.”
Local cooling centers include the Langley Community Center in Floyd County and the Paintsville Recreation Center in Johnson County.
Numerous flood-relief efforts are ongoing in Eastern Kentucky.
Beshear opened an online portal for donations to flood victims at TeamEKYFloodReliefFund.ky.gov. The funds will be used to provide long-term relief to individuals directly impacted by the historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky. The donations can help with food, shelter and other necessities of life and supplement emergency funds that come into the area.
Money collected through the donation site will not be used for administrative costs. Credit card and treasury fees may apply.
If you would like to donate items toward immediate relief in Eastern Kentucky, contact a local shelter, Red Cross or United Way. Immediate needs include water and cleaning supplies.
Floyd County Sheriff John Hunt posted on his office’s Facebook page an extensive list of services and resources available to flood victims in Floyd County.
Officials in Paintsville and Johnson County have opened a donation drop-off site on Third Street for area flood victims. Immediate needs include shovels, squeegees, rakes, mops, heavy-duty brooms, cleaning rags, detergent, multi-purpose cleaner, water, diapers and/or wipes, paper towels, bleach, buckets, garbage bags, totes and pet food.
Lawrence County High School will accept cleaning supplies and water through Friday of this week. The school is also accepting $25 gift cards.
The Father Beiting Appalachian Mission Center in Louisa is also accepting cleaning supplies for flood victims.
The Lawrence County Public Library has opened a flood donation center Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accept various supplies.
Van Lears Days, the Paintsville/Johnson County Trail Town Committee and the Van Lear Historical Society will accept canned food and dry goods at Saturday’s Van Lear Days event. Items collected will be delivered to Knott County on Sunday.