Article Author:
Associated Press
John Lavey
Friday's thunderstorms posed a new threat of flooding to parts of Kentucky devastated by storm surges a week ago.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for most of the state through Sunday evening.
Rain began to fall on already-soggy ground in eastern Kentucky late Friday morning as residents continued to clean up after floods in late July that killed at least 37 people. The Bureau of Meteorology said up to three inches of rain could fall in some areas by Friday night, and the storm was expected to hold off until at least Saturday night.
Gov. Andy Beshear canceled a visit to his two flood-ravaged counties on Friday because of unsafe travel conditions.
Last week's storms in eastern Kentucky brought floods up to roof height. In the days that followed, more than 1,300 people were rescued as teams searched boats and combed the debris-filled banks of the creek.
Many residents are waiting for public facilities to be restored. About 3,000 customers in Kentucky had no electricity on Friday. Some entire water systems were cut off or severely damaged, requiring a serious response from the National Guard and others to distribute bottled water.
President Joe Biden directed relief funds to flooded counties last week after he had 20-27 centimeters of rain in just 48 hours in the Appalachian region of the federal disaster. declared. Federal financial assistance was also provided to many residents for the repair of private access roads and bridges. The state also provided disaster unemployment assistance.
The Weather Service also issued flood warnings for much of West Virginia and the Washington, D.C. area.
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Rabies reported from Charleston, Virginia
