Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia declared states of emergency and launched search and rescue operations amid the flooding.
At least 16 people have been confirmed dead from record flooding in eastern Kentucky, where the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue teams search for missing people from affected communities. washed away water.
“The hard news is that 16 deaths have been confirmed now, and people will be a lot higher,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said during Friday’s briefing.
Beshear said the dead included elderly men and women, and two children.
Powerful floodwaters have swallowed towns embracing creeks and streams in Appalachian valleys and valleys, swept away homes and businesses, piled vehicles into useless piles and crushed abandoned equipment run and debris against the bridge. Landslides swept people on steep slopes and at least 33,000 customers were without power.
“Everybody out there is scared, unable to contact one of their loved ones. Governor said. “We will try to connect as many people as possible. “
Search and rescue teams have rescued at least 294 people, the governor said, with more than 100 people being mobilized from affected areas from affected areas.
Rachel Patton said floodwaters flooded her home in Floyd County so quickly that her mother, who was breathing oxygen, had to evacuate on a floating door on high water. Patton’s voice faltered as she described their harrowing escape.
“We had to swim outside and it was cold. She told WCHS TV.
Our President Joe Biden approved Beshear’s request for an in-state disaster declaration to free up federal funds for rescue and reconstruction assistance.
Some of the hardest hit areas suffer from high levels of poverty and Beshear predicts it will take more than a year to recover from the damage.
The flooding situation in Eastern Kentucky is ongoing, with a flood warning in effect until today. Heartbreakingly, we can confirm at least 15 deaths, but we expect that number to grow. More than 23,000 Kentuckians are powerless. 1/3 https://t.co/mrx4htJY0k
– Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) July 29, 2022
Rain continued to fall in the area on Friday. Flood warnings and clocks remain in effect throughout the day for the eastern half of the state as well as northeastern Tennessee and western West Virginia, where more rain is expected to flood capital waterways. already above their flood levels, the National Weather Service (NWS) says.
Rivers in the region are expected to peak on Friday and throughout the weekend while the risk is more dangerous flash floods could still happen throughout the day, the NWS said.
Emergency declarations have been issued in Virginia and West Virginia, and rescue teams in those states have been deployed to assist people in areas that have been cut off by flooding. Power outages across Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky affected more than 33,000 people, according to Poweroutage.us.
Elle local media and social media shows.
Major road flooding in the Las Vegas Arts District.
: Jose Amaya pic.twitter.com/kRZZQQcale
– David Charns (@davidcharns) July 29, 2022
At Casino Circa, a video on social media showed rain pouring down from a wall of a video screen, while at Planet Hollywood, water poured down a casino table from a hole in the ceiling.
Several rounds flood has affected the Midwestern city of St Louis, Missouri this week, with torrential rains on Monday and Tuesday leaving streets inundated with water and a second wave of storms on Thursday. flood situation.
The city’s fire department said it had assisted at least 60 people affected by rising water and responded to 75 flood-related emergencies, and the weather agency said the intensity of the downpour. The downpour is unprecedented in the city’s history.
So I’m in Circa in #vegas and it was flash floods and ………… pic.twitter.com/Pzu1dNCRer
– NATALIE MINERVA ✨ (@NatalieMinerva) July 29, 2022
