Rescuers search for flood victims as toll rises to 25

PRESTONBURG, Ky. — At least 25 people have died — including four children — since torrential rains swamped towns across Appalachia, Kentucky’s governor said Saturday.

“We continue to pray for the families that have suffered an unfathomable loss,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “Some having lost almost everyone in their household.”

Beshear said the number would probably rise significantly and it could take weeks to find all the victims of the record flash flooding. Rescue crews continued the struggle to get into hard-hit areas, some of them among the poorest places in America.

“I’m worried that we’re going to be finding bodies for weeks to come,” Beshear said.

He said it’s still an active search and rescue operation with a goal of getting as many people to safety as possible. Crews have made more than 1,200 rescues from helicopters and boats, the governor said.

Beshear, who flew over parts of the flood-stricken region on Friday, described it as “just total devastation, the likes of which we have never seen.”

The rain let up early Friday after parts of eastern Kentucky received 8 to 10½ inches over 48 hours.

In the tiny community of Garrett on Saturday, couches, tables and pillows soaked by flooding were stacked in yards along the foothills of the mountainous region as people worked to clear out debris and shovel mud from driveways and roads.

In nearby Wayland, Phillip Michael Caudill was working to clean up debris and salvage what he could from the home he shares with his wife and three children. The waters had receded from the house but left a mess behind along with questions about what he and his family will do next.

“We’re just hoping we can get some help,” said Caudill, who is staying with his family at a state park in a free room, for now.

Patricia Colombo, 63, of Hazard, became stranded when her car stalled in floodwaters on a state highway. Colombo began to panic when water started rushing in. Though her phone was dead, she saw a helicopter overhead and waved. The helicopter crew radioed a ground team that plucked her to safety.

Colombo stayed the night at her fiance’s home in Jackson and they took turns sleeping, repeatedly checking the water with flashlights to see if it was rising. Though her car was a loss, Colombo said others had it worse in a region where poverty is endemic.

“Many of these people cannot recover out here,” she said. “They’ve lost everything.”

Timothy D. Easley / Associated Press Volunteers from the local Mennonite community clear debris from a flood-damaged home in Hindman, Ky. Parts of eastern Kentucky were swamped with 8 to 10½ inches of rain.