As William reported, The forecast may only bring more pain to Kentucky
for the latest about the terrible damage and losses there. I spoke
moments ago with Governor Andy Bashir.
Governor Bashir. Thank you very much for joining us. You've said
that The loss in eastern Kentucky is unimaginable. Since then, there
have been even more fatalities announced. Where do things stand right
now?
Well, we are still in the midst.
Of this flooding and of this disaster. We are not out of the woods
yet. The forecast tonight.
Could bring more flooding and more flooding overnight. When people
are normally asleep. That's when the worst of this hit. It's one
of the reasons it's been so deadly along with record rainfall, So
we are talking here right now. I think we've lost 37 Kentucky INS.
But we know there are more bodies and we'll be finding them for weeks.
Some we find miles away from where they were lost. And for those
that are still with us. First of all, they will all say to a person.
They're blessed to still be here. But they have lost everything.
Their home every possession, all their their important documents.
I mean, everything It is, um
Another tough day and eastern Kentucky. But we are tough people,
so we are banding together.
We're cleaning out. We will find every person praying that as many
of them are still with us as possible, and when we get out of the
emergency situation will rebuild, because that's what we do. Well,
we are so sorry for each and every loss that you experience and that
losses that are to come give us a sense of why you think it is going
to take weeks to get a full grasp of what you've lost here.
Well, the area that this is hit is extensive. It is probably about
16 counties in the end, and with with that amount of people that
have been impacted, even getting an idea of how many people are unaccounted
for, is a challenge. Some of these hollers the some of these gullies,
Uh, we don't have a good number of how many people were living there
to begin with. And then this water
So violent so high flooding places that have never been flooded before
can carry people or things a great distance. Listen, there are homes
that we don't even know where a piece of them are Not one piece.
They're gone. Only the foundation is there. We can't find one bit
of it. And now we hope that we won't see significant additional flooding
tonight.
It's going to be a great challenge and then rebuilding. Um A lot
of these folks don't have flood insurance because it is virtually
unaffordable and some of the areas that are flooded. Don't flood.
Right, Don't flood
and and so it's it's going to be a challenge. But again, um and Kentucky
where people who love one another we open our hearts and our homes
to each other, and I know the state
and certainly I ask Governor I'm going to be there with them every
step of the way every day every week, and every year it takes to
rebuild. And and I hear you suggesting governor that these are
The people Most affected are people who didn't have a great deal
to begin with.
That's what's so mean about this one and a lot of what we saw in
the tornadoes in December. Those that lost everything here didn't
have much to begin with, and and scrapped together, probably for
years, maybe even decades for what they had and listen. They're proud
and they should be of of everything that they were able to build
in their lives. And now, all of it.
Gone, but our goal
Mr Pick them back up and to get them back to the point they were
at as quickly as we can. That won't be overnight. They've experienced
a lot of trauma. But as an our commitment as people of faith and
values is to our fellow human being, and we're going to stand there
with them.
Well, there's every reason to think that there are going to be future
extreme weather events in Kentucky as well as around the rest of
the country. What is your state need to do to minimize the loss of
life and and damage from from these events, But we need to continue
to be weather aware to have more ways to communicate with people.
In advance and to be able to not only predict, but to have the information
earlier on how severe something maybe, and so we need to build back
stronger. We need our bridges to be able to withstand more. But whether
it was an F four tornado in December that stayed on the ground for
200 miles in Kentucky, or flooding the levels of which an area that
that may even regularly flood.
Has never seen
What we really needed here was more time and more information to
to get people out. But we do need to build more resilient. We are
seeing more severe weather and we want our people to be safe and
governor Finally, for those watching and listening to you. What would
you say if they want to offer to help? How can they do that?
First I'd say thank you. Um, we need your help, Uh and we'll take
every single bit of it. The donations that people are giving what
we really need our water cleaning supplies, household goods. So one
thing we don't need our peoples used clothing. We appreciate the
gesture, but it overwhelms our folks very quickly, and then we have
a fun. The team eastern Kentucky.
Flood relief fund and it's 100% transparent. Every single dollar
will go to help people who have been impacted. There will be no administrative
fees, and the first thing we're gonna do is we're gonna pay for every
funeral. Nobody's going to have to apply. We know who these folks
are. We will grieve together as a people as a state and as a country
and everybody out there.
That's watching. Pray for us. Please help us. Um, but know that we
greatly appreciate you and feel your love. The country grieves with
you and certainly wishes you the best in these Just very, very difficult
days. Governor Andy Bashir of Kentucky. Thank you so much. Thank