Disastrous flash flooding and torrential rains have killed at least 15 people in Kentucky and the death toll is expected to double and include children, it was announced this morning.
Catastrophic downpours have obliterated entire cities – submerging homes, cars and buildings in floodwaters as emergency services scramble desperately to save those trapped.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the rising death toll this morning as he braced the state for the death toll to double as he warned the count “will include some children.”
Homes with families inside were “completely swept away in the middle of the night, possibly while they were sleeping,” the governor said today.
DEADLY FLOODING: A shocking aerial view of homes submerged under flood waters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Kentucky on July 28. The governor has warned that the death toll is expected to double and include children.
KENTUCKY: Flash flooding from torrential rains has killed at least 15 people in eastern Kentucky and left some residents stranded on rooftops and trees
FLOODING RISES: Members of the Winchester, Ky. Fire Department ride inflatable boats through floodwaters along Kentucky State Highway 15 to pick up people stranded by the waters Thursday.
KENTUCKY: Aerial view of a car on a road submerged under flood waters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Kentucky on July 28
DESTRUCTION: A car is submerged in floodwaters along Right Beaver Creek after a day of heavy rain in Garrett, Kentucky
Devastating images show the catastrophic destruction the floods have caused in the state, with cars floating in streets that now resemble rivers.
Homes and businesses have been submerged almost to their roofs in the relentless deadly torrent.
Beshear said a series of storms that drenched the eastern part of the state have dropped water that has yet to recede, leaving damage that could take years to repair.
The governor declared a state of emergency in six counties on Thursday morning.
Rainwater was as high as the leaves of nearby trees and power poles jutted out of the greenish-brown water, images of the destruction revealed.
The death toll from the deadly weather system rose to eight yesterday, but the toll has now reached 15.
KENTUCKY: An abandoned pickup truck is seen submerged under flood waters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Kentucky
DEADLY STORM: A home is seen half-submerged by floodwaters from the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Jackson, Kentucky. The death toll, which is expected to continue to rise, has already reached 15
KENTUCKY: Roads have turned into rivers and lakes as relentless flooding hits Kentucky this week
Beshear said yesterday: “We are currently experiencing one of the worst and most devastating flood events in Kentucky history. Hundreds will lose their homes.’
Among the dead was an 81-year-old woman in Perry County, and local authorities say several people are missing.
“This is an ongoing natural disaster, with more rain expected tonight that could make the situation worse,” Beshear said yesterday.
The flooding has left nearly 24,000 homes without power in eastern Kentucky, according to the website Poweroutage.us.
Yesterday, the state activated the national guard and state police to use helicopters and boats to rescue people stranded in the floodwaters.
Evacuation centers opened at state parks and other facilities, but Beshear warned that some of the facilities were hit hard by the storms and may not have power or some amenities.
In a tweet this morning, Beshear said, “Central and eastern Kentucky remain under a flood watch today. While rainfall totals are not expected to be as high, flooding remains a concern due to saturated ground Please be safe and alert Kentucky.
