At least 28 people have died in devastating floods that ripped through eastern Kentucky and the death toll is only expected to rise, the state’s governor Andy Beshear said Sunday.
“I know of several additional bodies, and we know it’s going to grow,” Beshear said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“With the level of water, we’re going to be finding bodies for weeks, many of them swept hundreds of yards, maybe a quarter mile plus from where they were lost,” he continued.
In an updated toll Sunday after, Kentucky officials said at least 37 people remain unaccounted for.
The National Guard has been deployed to conduct door-to-door rescues, the Democratic governor said, adding that soldiers are trying to find “as many people as we can.”
“We still can’t get into some areas to check on people,” Beshear said, adding the forecast for Sunday bringing more rain to the region is hindering their abilities to help those stranded.
“We know it’s going to grow,” Gov. Andy Beshear said about the death toll. NBC News/Meet the Press
Four children, siblings who were swept away from their parents in the flood waters, are among the dead. http://www.kentucky.com
A house destroyed by flooding in Central Appalachia in Kentucky. Wang Changzheng/Xinhua via ZUMA Press
More rain in the region is hindering rescue teams’ abilities to help those stranded. Wang Changzheng/Xinhua via ZUMA Press“We’re even going to work through the rain. But the weather is complicating it.”
So far, four children are among the dead, the governor said, referencing the young siblings who were swept away from their parents in ferocious flood waters Thursday.
“I fear that we’ll find at least a couple more as well,” he added.
One of the issues facing rescuers in the rural area is that authorities don’t have an accurate headcount of how many people live in each community.
“We have multiple Kentucky state police posts that are taking calls from loved ones that can’t connect with those that they are worried about,” Beshear said.
The flood is proving to be one of the worst in recent Kentucky history, and the governor said preventing future floods will take “major federal investment.”
Officials said Sunday that about 50 bridges have been damaged from the flood.
“We have dozens of bridges that are out — making it hard to get to people, making it hard to supply people with water,” the governor said at a Sunday afternoon presser . “We have entire water systems down that we are working hard to get up.”
Around 70 trailers are being brought from western part of the state to provide temporary housing, according to Kentucky.com
A rescue team member evacuates residents from their homes through flooded streets in Breathitt County. via REUTERS
Kentucky National Guard helicopter crew members carry a person to safety from a flooded area. US Army National Guard/Handout via REUTERS
Rescue crews are struggling to locate people in rural areas because they lack an accurate headcount of residents in the community. US Army National Guard/Handout via REUTERS
The flood is proving to be one of the worst in recent Kentucky history. Office of Governor Andy Beshear/Handout via REUTERS