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Water infrastructure a priority in flooded eastern Kentucky

Gov. Andy Beshear updating on the flood response efforts 08/03/22
Gov. Andy Beshear Youtube
Gov. Andy Beshear updating on the flood response efforts 08/03/22

Recovery efforts continue in earnest in eastern Kentucky a week after floods wreck much of the region. Search and rescue efforts also remain underway. The official death toll remains at 37 but it is expected to rise in the coming days and weeks.

Officials are saying infrastructure repairs will take some time before they’re complete. Governor Beshear said during a press briefing Wednesday the damage to water systems is varied.

“It ranges from a key part of the infrastructure being flooded and having to go in and repair it. That’s in Hazard. Then in you go up to Buckhorn and some of it’s just wiped out, the pipes, everything, gone.”

Much of southeast Kentucky is under a boil water advisory.

There are a number of health concerns including making sure people get tetanus shots if they have been near the flood debris. Governor Beshear mentioned another service being offered to those displaced and the workers helping them.

“Get mental health services out and available to folks. The Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities has teams of crisis counselors.”

The mental health teams are stationed at various shelters throughout the region.

The next big concern is high heat and high humidity the rest of this week. Temperatures are expected to get in the mid 80’s to low 90’s with heat index values getting to be around 100 degrees.

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Stan Ingold is WEKU's News Director. He has worked in public broadcasting for 18 years, starting at Morehead State Public Radio before spending the past 10 years at Alabama Public Radio. Stan has been honored with numerous journalism awards for his public radio reporting.
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