LOUISVILLE (Kentucky, US), Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Another round of rainstorms hit flooded Kentucky mountain communities as more bodies emerged from the sodden landscape, and the governor warned that high winds could bring another threat – falling trees and utility poles.
Governor Andy Beshear said the death toll rose to 35 while hundreds of people remained unaccounted for five days after one of the nation’s poorest regions was swamped by nearly a foot of rain. The water poured down hillsides and into valleys and hollows, engulfing entire towns. Mudslides marooned some people on steep slopes.
Radar indicated that up to 10.2cm of rain fell on Sunday, and the National Weather Service warned that slow-moving showers and thunderstorms could provoke more flash flooding through Tuesday morning.
“If things weren’t hard enough on the people of this region, they’re getting rain right now,” Beshear said Monday at the Capitol in Frankfort. “Just as concerning is high winds – think about how saturated the ground has been.” The wind “could knock over poles, it could knock over trees. So people need to be careful.”
An approaching heat wave means “it’s even going to get tougher when the rain stops,” the governor said. “We need to make sure people are ultimately stable by that point.”
More than 12,000 utility customers remained without power. At least 300 people were staying in shelters.
The floods were unleashed last week when 20 to 27cm of rain fell in just 48 hours in parts of eastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia and western Virginia.
The disaster was the latest in a string of catastrophic deluges that have pounded parts of the US this summer, including St. Louis. Scientists warn that climate change is making such events more common.
Meanwhile, nighttime curfews were declared in response to reports of looting in two of the devastated communities – Breathitt County and the nearby city of Hindman in Knott County.
Breathitt County declared a countywide curfew from 10pm to 6am. The only exceptions were for emergency vehicles, first responders, and people travelling for work.
“I hate to have to impose a curfew, but looting will absolutely not be tolerated. Our friends and neighbours have lost so much. We cannot stand by and allow them to lose what they have left,” County Attorney Brendon Miller said in a Facebook post.
Breathitt County Sheriff John Hollan said the curfew decision came after 18 reports of looting. He said people were stealing from private property where homes were damaged. No arrest have been made.
Hindman Mayor Tracy Neice also announced a sunset-to-sunrise curfew because of looting, television station WYMT reported. Both curfews will remain in place until further notice, officials said.
Last week’s flooding extended to parts of West Virginia and Virginia. President Joe Biden declared a federal disaster to direct relief money to flooded counties, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency was helping. — NNN-AGENCIES
