Comment The death toll from flash flooding in eastern Kentucky has risen to 28, including many children, and the governor said more victims are expected as search and rescue teams go door-to-door in the Appalachian foothills to assess the damage. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced the latest death toll in a press release Sunday night. “We remain focused on meeting the immediate needs of providing food, water and shelter for thousands of our fellow Kentuckians displaced by this devastating flooding,” he said in the release. “At the same time, we have started the long road to eventual recovery.” Earlier Sunday, Beshear said rescue crews were still searching for survivors as the rain continued and that authorities had unconfirmed reports of additional deaths. Because of dangerous conditions, including downed power lines, as well as poor cellphone service, he said some affected areas are inaccessible and the state does not have a “firm grasp” on the number of people missing. “With the water level, we’re going to be finding bodies for weeks, many of them swept hundreds of yards, maybe a quarter of a mile from where they went missing,” Beshear told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” The Lexington Herald-Leader put the death toll at 33 Sunday night, based on reports of additional deaths from two county coroners. In some families, everyone in their household perished, the governor said. The state was doubling the National Guard to search for victims, he said. Among the most tragic stories was the death of four brothers who had climbed onto their roof to escape the floods. After the roof collapsed, the family got stuck in tree branches, according to an account in the Herald-Leader. A wave of water swept the children away. The disaster led to flash floods, landslides and mudslides. The storms displaced hundreds of residents and caused “hundreds of millions of dollars” in damage, the governor said in a YouTube video posted Sunday. He said it could take years to rebuild in the area. Kentucky Power said on Twitter that as of noon Sunday, power had been restored to about 50 percent of customers who had lost it. According to a press release Sunday night, 359 survivors are being temporarily housed in 15 shelters and two state parks and campgrounds. The flooding in Kentucky was caused by a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall that scientists say is emblematic of the type of extreme weather that will become more common as the Earth warms. Explained: How two 1-in-1,000-year rainfall events hit the US in two days On “Meet the Press,” Beshear referred to extreme weather — including an unusual wave of tornadoes in December that devastated parts of Kentucky and other states — and said officials must make sure our “roads, bridges, culverts , the state’s “floodwalls can withstand more stress.” Rural water and sewage systems are easily overwhelmed, he said, and upgrading their infrastructure is “so expensive”. He said the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan infrastructure legislation passed last year were a “good start” and allowed the state to afford improvements “that we couldn’t do in the past.” “But if we really want to be more resilient, it’s going to take a significant federal investment just like here in the state,” Beshear said. The National Weather Service is predicting several rounds of rain and thunderstorms for the area Sunday through Tuesday, with possible flash flooding. A “short dry spell” is expected on Wednesday, but Thursday could bring more rain. Beshear urged residents to take precautions. “The next two days will be difficult,” he said in the YouTube video. “We have rain and maybe even a lot of rain that will hit the same areas. Please pray for the people in these areas and if you are in the areas that are going to be hit by rain, make sure you stay safe. Make sure you have a place that is on higher ground. Go to a shelter.”
