Torrential rains triggered flash flooding and mudslides in central Appalachia, damaging a Kentucky emergency official described as ‘catastrophic’ as rescue teams searched the rising waters for stranded people.
Flash flooding, mudslides and power outages were reported in the mountainous region where thunderstorms dumped several centimeters of rain over the past few days. Flood watches and warnings were in effect.
In hard-hit Perry County in eastern Kentucky, rescue teams worked through the night.
“This is a catastrophic event,” said Perry County Emergency Management Director Jerry Stacy. “I’ve lived here in Perry County all my life and this is by far the worst event I’ve ever seen.”
“We’re just in rescue mode right now,” he said, speaking by phone as he struggled to reach Hazard’s office. “Extreme flash floods and mudslides are everywhere.”
Poweroutage.us reported more than 20,000 power outages in eastern Kentucky and nearly 10,000 more in southern West Virginia and the mountains of western Virginia.
In eastern Kentucky, Floyd County has declared a local state of emergency due to heavy rainfall and flooding, state Governor Andy Beshear said. He said Kentucky emergency management teams have been deployed.
In West Virginia’s Greenbrier County, firefighters pulled people from flooded homes and five campers stranded by high water in Nicholas County were rescued by the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department, WCHS reported- TV.
Roads in many areas were not passable after 6 inches of rain fell in some areas Thursday, and another 1 to 3 inches could fall, the National Weather Service said.
Residents of low-lying areas in Perry, Leslie and Clay counties have been urged to seek higher ground after reports of multiple whitewater rescues.
The Breathitt County Courthouse was opened as an overnight shelter. The Breathitt, Emergency Management Director, Chris Friley, told WKYT-TV that the former Montessori school will serve as a more permanent shelter once crews can staff it.
“It’s the worst we’ve had in quite a while,” Friley said. “It’s county-wide again. There are several places that are still not accessible to rescue teams.
Perry County dispatchers told WKYT-TV that floodwaters washed away roads and bridges and toppled homes from foundations. The City of Hazard posted on Facebook that crews were out all night to help people. The city has urged drivers to stay off the roads and “pray for a break in the rain”.
theguardian Gt