FRANKFORT, Ky. (WDKY) — On Sunday, Gov. Andy Beshear addressed the state after a day and night of heavy rainfall that caused deadly flooding from the east end of the Bluegrass State to the west.
The floods, along with crashes due to weather-related hazards on Saturday, Feb. 15, took the lives of at least eight people, Beshear said during the press conference.
“The fatalities include motor vehicle-related deaths of men in Hart and Nelson counties; and floodwater-related deaths of a man in Clay County, a woman and a child in Hart County, two men in Pike County and a woman in Washington County,” Beshear said in a news release on Sunday, Feb. 16.
Since Saturday morning, emergency crews have reportedly carried out 1,000 rescues across Kentucky.
Meanwhile, state leaders announced on Sunday that with federal support approved by President Donald Trump, the state has been granted an emergency disaster declaration.
Beshear said Kentucky is in a search and rescue phase, finding those who are in life-threatening situations caused by devastating weather conditions in many southern and eastern counties and getting them to safety.
State leaders and federal emergency personnel urged Kentucky residents to stay at home on Sunday, emphasizing that it’s not worth losing a life to travel in deadly weather-related conditions.
For emergency preparedness tips, visit the Kentucky Emergency Management website.
Don’t forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.
