/ WSIP AM 1490 | CBS Sports
Mar 2, 2021 8:09 PM
On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on the state’s emergency response after record flooding over the weekend.
“What we have seen is some of the worst rain in Western Kentucky in parts of Calloway County, to parts of cities underwater in Eastern Kentucky. So many of our people are struggling right now,” said Gov. Beshear. “We have the National Guard out in force working with numerous local officials who are providing great leadership.”
Kentucky Division of Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said 49 cities and counties have declared states of emergency.
“We have reached out to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and asked FEMA Region 4 to send their lead investigator to the state of Kentucky to look at the homes that were damaged and those that have been inundated,” said Director Dossett. “This is truly a record-breaking event. The water is still high, and this is not over.”
Credit Oakley Fugate, Appalshop
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear used his regular media briefing on coronavirus Tuesday to also provide an update on flooding that struck parts of the state.
Record rainfall has led to widespread property damage and evacuations in parts of the state. Beshear said Kentucky Emergency Management is evacuating 1,000 people from the town of Jackson in Breathitt County on Tuesday. The National Guard is assisting with evacuations.
Division of Emergency Management Director Michael Dossett said the flooding has postponed damage assessment from the February ice storm.
“This is truly a record breaking event. The water is still high. This one is not over at this point. Some of the river areas will be cresting on Saturday and Sunday,” Dossett said.
Covid-19 vaccines needed to be rescued by boat as heavy rain caused flooding in Kentucky
A batch of Covid-19 vaccines had to be rescued by boat after heavy rains threatened the power supply at a Kentucky health facility, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
The doses were rescued from the Lee County Health Department in Beattyville and moved to Wolfe County, Beshear said during a press conference Monday.
Not a single dose was lost, he said.
Heavy rains on top of snow melt which saturated the soil have caused major flooding in Kentucky, which set over a dozen record for rainfall totals on Sunday, according to CNN Meteorologist Michael Guy.
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