The hardest hit areas of eastern Kentucky received almost a foot of rain late last week. The North Fork of the Kentucky River reached 20.9 feet in Whitesburg, more than 6 feet over the previous record, and crested at a record 43.5 feet in Jackson, National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Bonds said.
The rains of Sunday and Monday won’t be the end of it, the weather service warned. Thunderstorms are possible Tuesday, as well as Thursday through Saturday.
A dozen shelters opened for flood victims across the state drew 388 occupants Sunday, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. About 70 trailers – purchased by the state for use during deadly tornadoes that ripped through western Kentucky in December – were deployed as temporary shelters.
“Yesterday, our first travel trailers arrived, and we are working fast to establish additional shelter options,” Beshear said.
The state plans to work with area hotels to pay room costs for displaced residents – and to cover funeral expenses for people killed in the floods.
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