The death toll in Eastern Kentucky due to rain that unleashed massive floods in Appalachian mountain communities has resulted in 37 confirmed dead, with rescue workers combing the rest of the region for the hundreds of missing people.
The flooding, which reached record highs of a height of 43.5ft, swept away houses, knocked down bridges, and displaced hundreds of Kentuckians. Vital resources such as water and electricity were also knocked out during the disaster, with roads being destroyed making it harder for rescuers and first responders to get supplies to those in need. Now, the survivors trying to recover face a completely different threat: the smoldering heat.
“It’s going to get really, really hot. And that is now our new weather challenge,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday morning during his morning briefing on the disaster.
Temperatures were predicted to rise well above the 80s and into the 90s, however, it would feel much hotter to people out there due to the intense humidity. Such temperatures, when combined with the humidity, will feel like triple digit temperatures to those stuck without aid.
State officials were mostly concerned with getting essential supplies such as food and water out to people who were forced to flee their homes.
Statistics have also shown that many of the places hit by floods have never had floods in their history. If they had no risk of floods previously, no one would have gotten flood insurance. With them losing their homes, most of their belongings, and for some even their jobs, cash donations and relief funds have to be set up for them.
Total losses were estimated to be well into hundreds of millions of dollars.
The flooding, which reached record highs of a height of 43.5ft, swept away houses, knocked down bridges, and displaced hundreds of Kentuckians. Vital resources such as water and electricity were also knocked out during the disaster, with roads being destroyed making it harder for rescuers and first responders to get supplies to those in need. Now, the survivors trying to recover face a completely different threat: the smoldering heat.
“It’s going to get really, really hot. And that is now our new weather challenge,” Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Tuesday morning during his morning briefing on the disaster.
Temperatures were predicted to rise well above the 80s and into the 90s, however, it would feel much hotter to people out there due to the intense humidity. Such temperatures, when combined with the humidity, will feel like triple digit temperatures to those stuck without aid.
State officials were mostly concerned with getting essential supplies such as food and water out to people who were forced to flee their homes.
Statistics have also shown that many of the places hit by floods have never had floods in their history. If they had no risk of floods previously, no one would have gotten flood insurance. With them losing their homes, most of their belongings, and for some even their jobs, cash donations and relief funds have to be set up for them.
Total losses were estimated to be well into hundreds of millions of dollars.
