Heavy rains have left thousands of people without electricity
At least eight people have died and thousands are without power due to flooding in Kentucky (USA), one of the “most devastating in its history”, due to torrential rains, Governor Andy Beshear reported Thursday. In a message on his official Facebook page, which was accompanied by a video, the Democratic governor raised the number of deaths from the floods to 8, after having reported this afternoon of the three deaths, one of them an 81-year-old woman years.
Beshear insisted in the video that the death toll is expected to reach “double digits”, as he had previously anticipated, noting that more rain is expected in the coming hours, which may make the situation worse. The governor stressed that some areas of the state will be without electricity or running water for a while, although he explained that the authorities will bring water from other places.
Previously, Beshear indicated in an appearance before the media that there have been 25,111 power outages in the state and that the authorities are already working on repair work. The governor warned that this is “a natural disaster in progress” and that the rains will continue in some parts of Kentucky, where in certain areas up to two and three inches (more than 5 and 7 centimeters) are expected to fall tonight. Water.
A response team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is scheduled to begin work in the affected areas this Thursday, added Beshear, who explained that he spoke today with the White House to explain the needs of the state.
Beshear declared a state of emergency on Thursday and activated the National Guard – a reserve military corps – to help with the rescue efforts. “We’re looking at one of the worst flood events, one of the most devastating in Kentucky’s history,” said the governor, noting that a large number of damaged homes are expected.
The weather channel noted that an unknown number of houses were swept away by the rains, and in many cases the water reached the roofs. Also, many roads are blocked and many trees have fallen. Beshear explained that there are people who have been trapped on the roof of their houses in eastern Kentucky and are waiting to be rescued.
Local media reported that up to six inches of water (about 15 centimeters) have fallen since Wednesday night in the Jackson area, in that state.