“We remain focused on meeting the immediate needs of providing food, water and shelter to the thousands of fellow Kentuckians displaced by this devastating flood,” he said in the release. “At the same time, we started on the long road to ultimate recovery.”
Earlier on Sunday, Beshear said rescue teams were continuing to search for survivors as the rain resumed, and officials had unconfirmed reports of additional deaths.
He said some affected areas were inaccessible due to hazardous conditions such as downed power lines and spotty cell phone service, and the government did not have a “firm understanding” of the number of missing.
“With the amount of water, we’re going to be finding bodies for weeks, many of them washed up hundreds of yards, maybe a quarter mile plus from where they were lost,” Beshear told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
The Lexington Herald-Leader The death toll by Sunday night was 33, based on reports of additional deaths from two county coroner’s offices.
In some families, everyone in their house perished, the governor said. The government is doubling the National Security Force to search for victims, he said.
One of the saddest stories is the death of four siblings who climbed onto a roof to escape the rising floodwaters. After the roof collapsed, the family clung to tree branches, according to one account Herald-Chief. The water surged and swept away the children.
The The disaster led to flash floods, landslides and mudslides. The storms displaced hundreds of residents and caused “hundreds of millions of dollars” in damage, the governor said on YouTube. Video Published on Sunday. He said it may take many years to rebuild the area. Kentucky Power reported on Twitter As of noon Sunday, about 50 percent of customers who lost power had been restored.
According to a Sunday evening news release, 359 survivors have been temporarily housed in 15 camps and two state parks and campgrounds.
Kentucky was flooded By 1-in-1,000-year precipitation Scientists say it’s a sign of extreme weather becoming more common as the Earth warms.
“Meet the reporters,” Beshear addressed extreme weather — incl Unusual hurricane in December ravaged areas of Kentucky and other states — and said officials must make sure the state’s “roads, our bridges, our levees, our floodwalls can withstand more intensity.”
Rural water and sewage systems are easily overwhelmed, and upgrading their infrastructure is “extremely expensive,” he said. He is a member of the American Rescue Program and The Bidirectional infrastructure The legislation passed last year was a “good start” and allowed the state to make “improvements we couldn’t make before.”
“But if we really want to be more resilient, it’s going to take a huge federal investment and here in the state,” Beshear said.
National Weather Service Predicted Several rounds of showers and storms, with flash flooding possible Sunday through Tuesday. A “brief dry spell” is expected on Wednesday, but Thursday could see more rain.
Beshear urged residents to take precautions.
“The next couple of days will be tough,” he said In a YouTube video. “We’ve got rain, maybe even more rain hitting the same areas. Pray for the people in these areas, if you’re in rain-affected areas, make sure you’re safe. Make sure you have space on higher ground. Go to a shelter.”
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