AT least three people are dead and more are missing after catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides in Kentucky on Wednesday night.
Entire towns have been left submerged in water with families waiting to be rescued on their roofs as the National Guard is called in after what is being described as the worst flooding in the history of the state.
More than six inches of rain hit the area last night, with hundreds of homes and businesses destroyed.
“For so many of our residents, we are currently experiencing one of the worst most devastating flooding events in Kentucky's history,” Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said this morning.
“What we're going to see coming out of this is massive property damage, we expect the loss of life, hundreds will lose their homes, and this is going to be yet another event that it's going to take not months but likely years for many families to rebuild and recover from.”
The flood led to two dead in Perry County, including an 81-year-old woman. A third person died in Knott County, Beshear later revealed.
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Beshear declared a state of emergency, and The State National Guard has been deployed, as he expects the death toll to rise.
The governor also revealed a Team Eastern Kentucky Flooding Relief Fund will be created.
And anyone with a missing loved one in either Perry, Knott, Letcher, or Breathitt counties is urged to call Kentucky State Police at 606-435-6069.
The floods have left multiple people stranded on the rooftops of their homes, along with the missing.
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“There are a number of people that are unaccounted for and I'm nearly certain this is a situation where we are going to lose some of them,” Beshear said.
“A lot of Kentuckians will probably lose most of what they have."
Faculty members are also stranded at a school amid ongoing rescue efforts.
Martin County's water system has completely shut down to repair burst lines, and the state has trucks on their way to aid in replenishing the supply.
As of this morning, the water was still receding in most areas.
Around 23,000 Kenutakians are without power.
Jenny Wiley, Buckhorn, and Pine Mountain State Parks are open to people who have lost their homes.
Kenutray National Guard Adjunct Major General Hal Lamberton said they have aviation and 15 t0 20"high axle vehicles", which can get through flooded roads to deliver supplies and retrieve residents from flooded homes.
The state has also sent out three helicopters, and multiple trucks to get through the water.
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The state police are also fully active, the transportation department is preparing for debris removal, and Fish and Wildlife working to make water rescues where safe for their personnel, and Forestry is ready for any cleanup, Beshear said.
Parts of Manchester County had reached 7.4 inches and 8.8 inches of rain fell near Hayden and Hazard Counties meteorologist Jim Caldwell said on Twitter.
"I don't have the words to describe the amount of devastation daylight will uncover across eastern Kentucky," WKYT's Chief Meteorologist Chris Bailey wrote on Twitter.
"This is likely to go down as one of the worst flash flood events to ever hit the state."
Additional rounds of storms are set to target the Interstate 64 corridor and south area of the state through Friday, he said.
Additional flooding is likely in the hard-hit areas, and the threat of floods will return Sunday into Monday.
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