♪ I'm emotional superintendent talks about losing buildings and people.

>> Folks are going to need everything.

For many, many, many people in this community.

They have lost everything they had.

>> A look at how some people are helping after the flooding.

>> Playing with my friends and even as it can.

What happened for school?

>> And it's a fun day for some Western Kentucky kids who've earned it.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET in Down the Kentucky productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Tuesday, August, the second.

>> Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

The death toll is now 37 from floods in eastern Kentucky.

Hundreds are still unaccounted for.

Governor Andy Beshear says he thinks that number will begin to drop as cell phone service is restored and people can communicate again.

In addition to the floodings.

And Pat people also have to deal with the heat at a time when almost 10,000 customers still lock electric power.

Cooling stations are on the way to some buildings that weren't damaged in the floods right now, about 430 people are staying in 11 shelters.

Another 191 are staying at state parks.

Not county is shut down its court system for the time being schools in the area are planning how they'll handle their start.

Dates.

You'll hear from some superintendents about that in just a few minutes.

Governor Andy Beshear visited Pike Floyd and breath of counties today and Pike County.

He praised Kentuckians for their resilient spirit.

>> Yes, we get knocked down.

It's okay to not be OK.

It is okay to not be OK, we get back up.

We lean on one another.

We care each other's grief.

And we I'm going to make it through this.

There's no red or blue.

There's no tiene Democrat or Republican.

There's just team Kentucky in eastern Kentucky that are here.

And that's the way it's going to be.

So we're fully back up on our feet and God willing, that's the way it's going to be from here on.

The people.

The reason I love you.

So state loves you.

We're going to do whatever it takes, no matter how long do everything we can.

To repair every single a bit of damage.

>> We're on day 6 what is definitely the worst thing that's ever happened to to our community over electric When I woke up Thursday morning, we didn't have cell phone signal or but what became immediately apparent is that the water was rising.

So fast that my family and I spit.

Most of Thursday.

Finding kayaks in everyone's backyard.

Even people who are on vacation jet skis, John boats with trailing maters.

Anything we could find that floated begging for life jackets and risking neighbors off rates and every single destroyed home.

You say is a heartbreaking tragedy.

But also.

A story of a hero and make no mistake we will find the resources and we will rebuild.

Our little communities come h*** or high water.

>> FEMA is in eastern Kentucky as people began the process of applying for disaster help.

We caught up with emergency management in Bullskin.

A town hit hard in Clay County.

>> The pictures you see on Facebook don't really do it.

Justice.

It's it.

It literally looks like a war zone.

The areas catastrophic, we have had probably 1000 people that are affected.

>> No no power, no access in and out of >> For several days after the flooding, we have had 2 confirmed from the flooding.

That's all I got at this point.

So we have been since then we've been from emergency management, everything that we can to try to help these people get back on their feet.

>> FEMA's mobile registration van was in 4 counties today.

FEMA says even if you talk to an individual assessor, you still need to officially register with FEMA.

Superintendents in the Eastern Kentucky school districts hit hard by severe flooding.

Spoke Monday about the devastation.

Their schools and communities have suffered at a virtual meeting organized by the Kentucky Department of Education superintendents with breath at Floyd.

Not letter and Perry counties said their districts are delaying the start of school year because several schools have structural damage are still submerged in water and lecture.

And Perry roads are impassable and buses would not be able to get to the students or the schools.

They also said with thousands of people without homes, power or running water, they're focused right now is on meeting the needs of those who have lost everything and some districts.

The losses included students and staff.

>> Unfortunately, we lost 2 staff members.

>> For our community colleges, devastating.

The positive side is that the school that are attack has become and says community centers school >> and I am Dyson site and distributed.

Innovations.

And the students are counting of all together.

And I have been working tirelessly to get the big what I made.

>> It's going to be extremely long process.

We haven't seen anything like this in my lifetime here.

Many parts of our community are just completely devastated.

I mean, homes are just gone.

And, you know, we're delivering meals to deliver water.

We're doing everything that we can.

>> But people are just I mean, honestly, some people won't leave what's left of their home.

So they're camping out of their homes.

And we're the only source of food that they have.

>> Almost all of the superintendent said schools in their districts were operating as shelters or distribution centers for flood victims.

The Kentucky National Guard is operating out of one school in Leslie County as it continues to assist with recovery efforts in the region.

Kentucky is now recovering from 2 major natural disasters.

The recent floods in eastern Kentucky and the December tornadoes that took the lives of 83 people in the western part of the state.

Next allergy has managed disaster recovery in both areas for the American Red Cross, Kentucky.

She spoke to our Casey Parker-bell about what the recovery has been like and how others can help.

>> Nikki, thanks for taking some time out of your day to answer some questions for us.

If you're on the ground there in eastern Kentucky, what is it like?

>> You know, honestly, that it's it's just really difficult.

There's a lot of hurting people.

There's a lot of water.

There's a lot of money.

And, you know, the reality is that we still don't know everything that is there and there is heat because there are still so many roads that are impassable.

Parts of this community that are under water.

As you know today, it flooded yet again in some of these areas.

So we're water went down.

It's going back up again.

And that's making it very difficult for the community for the first responders and for the folks on the ground who are trying to help because you want to get into some of these areas, but you can't because the water's gone up once again.

So there's a lot that we still don't know.

There's a lot that we do.

And so we're really grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve in the ways that we are and in helping the community in the way to the camp >> you said there's a lot of need right now.

What are the main things that are needed?

>> Yeah.

So you know, honestly, the biggest need a pick for this community is continuing to get them kindness, compassion and hope.

And and those are all things that we have in spades.

Our volunteers are absolutely amazing.

And I really think that one of the best things that our organization does is providing hope to the communities that have been hurting.

But, you know, other things that people need is they, you know, that many of these folks are going to double.

They need food in their bellies.

They need compassionate care.

They need health services, mental health services, spiritual care.

And we have folks on the ground that are being able to help provide that going person by person in the shelters that we have and being out in the offering that care and that support as well.

And the reality is, Casey, these folks are going to need everything.

For many, many, many people in this community.

They have lost everything they had and the truly even more heartbreaking part of this is so many of these communities were in this same situation last year.

And many of these people.

This is just a double hit for them and their families in OKC.

A lot of times people want to be able to give items, but I would I would challenge the right now.

There's nowhere for people to put those things are truly the best thing you can do is get your dollars.

Whether the Red Cross or another agency.

If your money, because then they're able to use that and it gives them the flexibility to use that were ever they wherever help is needed.

At that point in time.

>> More than 1300 Kentuckians have been rescued since the flooding began last week.

The Kentucky National Guard released this video showing your guard and action.

>> Joining us to really think about that report.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We had to bring her in.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> True heroes in action.

There on to other news as of last night, abortion is illegal in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals issued an order that allows Attorney General Daniel Cameron to enforce the trigger law outlawing abortions except to save a life or preventing disabling injury to the woman.

The court decision also upholds a pro-life law called the heartbeat law that bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy, neither law makes exceptions for rape or incest.

The state's 2 remaining abortion clinics have stopped providing abortions.

David was the executive director of the Family Foundation held the new order.

He spoke with our Casey Parker-bell earlier today.

>> David, the Kentucky Court of Appeals granted a request from the attorney general that would allow him to enforce the state's trigger law banning abortions.

What's your reaction is the executive director of the Family Foundation.

>> Well, this is a huge victory for unborn baby's first and foremost, but also a victory for the rule of law.

We're grateful that the court of Appeals has overruled the judicial activism of Judge Perry and put the enforceability of the law back into effect.

Both Kentucky Shooter Life Protection Act and the heartbeat law.

And we continue to be grateful for the prolife leadership of Attorney General Daniel Cameron and his team.

It's important that we recognize that prohibiting abortion now is is the law of the land in Kentucky.

It has been for over 100 years and the law should be enforced in place.

Even while this court challenge continues to play out from the ocean businesses.

Yeah.

>> David, obviously this is a legal battle that will continue.

What is your perception of what will happen from here on out?

>> Well, it's my understanding that the that the proportion side has probably already appealed to the Kentucky Supreme Court.

Obviously, this isn't a case of the importance and significance but the arguments of the other side it to be clear or white, a ridiculous, really U.S. attorney general has made clear they're essentially arguing that there's a secret right to an abortion in the Kentucky Constitution that I guess we're just finding out of discovering now it this is a desperate last ditch legal effort by the pro Bush and industry too tried to do a Roe v Wade style decision here, Kentuckyian have the judicial branch overrule and usurp the authority from the people and their elected representatives.

>> Abortion rights advocates are reacting to the Court of Appeals decision to allow the state's pro-life laws to take effect.

Planned Parenthood is one of the plaintiffs that challenge the constitutionality of the 2019 trigger law or the Human Life Protection Act and the heartbeat law, which bans abortions after 6 weeks of pregnancy.

I talked with tomorrow we'd or a Planned Parenthood alliance is about the decision this afternoon.

>> Was a deeply devastating decision.

I was not prepared for it.

I think, you know, in that roller coaster of abortion politics in Kentucky, I I should have been, but I was not prepared for it to come down and to walk into our health center today.

And here are, you know, health care staff moving patients to Indiana for care.

>> And that's what I was going to ask you.

I assume that you cease and desist and from providing abortion services at the time that the ruling was or the decision was sent down.

And you just said that those patients were transported to Indiana.

So your operations are not functioning at this time, correct?

>> Abortion services or not after a show in for the decision that came down last night after a Planned Parenthood.

Our doors remain open track, family planning some cancer that is to get cancer etcetera.

We are open for care and unfortunately for navigation now.

>> How many patients were transported to Indiana or elsewhere?

>> I don't have the number of but I mean, we're having to reschedule patients that we're not only, you know, scheduled for this week, but next week, you know, you know, having to and make sure that those who are seeking care will still be able to access it.

And, you know, Indiana to carry us right now because they're currently debating in the House right now at full out ban on abortion.

>> So for those women who are seeking that care who have come to Planned Parenthood for assistance and perhaps aren't don't have the financial resources to go out of state to Planned Parenthood, providing some type of assistance on that front.

>> They're so we're coordinating with a variety of different to flee the country.

Justice Network, the National Network of abortion funds and internal funds and the Justice Fund here at Planned Parenthood to assist with a patient seeking care and pension costs.

So, yes, we have been preparing long-term or an application support, a portion.

And there have been abortion funders like Kentucky Health Justice Network in and doing this for decades.

>> So what's next?

The appeal has already been filed, correct?

So with the state Supreme Court will take this matter up yet to calm.

And we should say that this is not just the trigger law that effectively ended abortions in Kentucky but it also pertains to the heartbeat law or the six-week abortion ban.

Correct?

>> Correct.

So, yes.

Like you said, we are appealing the decision and we are hopeful that the courts will grant relief to the in Kentucky are addressing health care.

No one should have asked the lines are see other states more rights than that.

>> And do you have any anticipation on oral arguments on this could be coming?

>> And had not told.

I hope that for our patients safe.

I mean, we do know that in states with outright and we're going to see a 21% increase in maternal in a state like Kentucky where we have double the national average for maternal mortality.

We don't have the time to waste.

>> Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron tweeted last night his gratitude for the decision to suspend abortions again in Kentucky.

While the cases proceed in the courts.

>> Some good COVID news and Kentucky.

The state says the positivity rate is down.

It's now 17.89% down from more than 19% a week ago.

As we told you last week, 80 of Kentucky's 120 counties are in the red zone, meaning high COVID activity.

A mixed reaction from U.S..

Senator Mitch McConnell to the news that a U.S. drone strike killed.

I caught a terrorism on I'm sorry over the weekend.

In a statement, Senator McConnell said, quote, President Biden deserves credit for approving this strike.

But all's Ari's returned to downtown cabal of further indicates that Afghanistan is again becoming a major thicket of terrorist activity.

Following the president's decision to withdraw U.S. forces and quote, this refers to President Biden's decision to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.

This has helped Marion in Crittendon County.

The town has faced a water shortage.

Scented had to drain the lake to KET alive.

The from failing.

The recent drought made matters worse.

Marion leaders say the town received more than 2 inches of rain over the weekend.

And on Monday City Administrator Adam Ledford says that rain water from the neighboring systems on water deliveries have helped the water supply situation.

But he also says there's still a need to conserve.

First Lady Britainy Beshear spoke in Caldwell County Monday, visiting families and children affected by the December tornadoes.

The summer celebration included giveaways face, painting food and our activities.

It was held at the Princeton Country Club located near the path of the tornado, which also served as a major cleanup site and landfill for the storms.

Debris.

>> And that is the whole upstairs.

And it took as a down stairs and we are in the basement and that the lots for now.

And then that's when it hit.

>> Both with the tornadoes and now with the you know, your home is supposed to be a secure, a safe space for you or your school or grandma's house.

And that was taken away from from these kids.

And so not only have lost all of their things, possibly family member, but that sense of security as it's going take a long time to get get that back for these kids.

And so even just like today to give them a moment to just be kids and to run around and laugh, I think is important.

Part of that healing process.

>> We've got I scenes and got my face painted.

We've listened to speeches can ease the popcorn.

This she everything.

>> Has been playing with my friends and even kuz.

It can be in.

>> What happened for school >> She was visiting is part of the sequence of events she's done across West Kentucky, too.

I bring a little bit of hope to the children up to families impacted by the tornado.

And we were greatly appreciative to have you with us today for those kiddos to have the opportunity to celebrate together and see some smiles and to 2 happiness out of a very dark day in our collective history.

>> Sometimes it can feel like it's a really slow But I did just speak with a woman who moved into her brand-new house.

She said 2 weeks ago the first she said ground of rebuild.

And so that is just it feels amazing and hopeful to hear those stories we have to live somewhere else.

>> At first, but now I'm back in the House that we still have Steph.

We've heard from a lot of different family members that.

>> Every time the wind blows are every time they hear a tornado siren or when a storm cloud, Roseanne.

That that is scary.

Haha.

I got a folder of it here.

Packed crowds calling And nobody's.

When kids read books and the they're able to and to get an understanding whether it's from the scientific aspect or just from dealing with their feelings.

So these folks are not just about tornadoes, but also books that will help them to understand resiliency.

>> This is actually the final resting place of 64 homes and callous pieces of innumerable others.

And thanks to the incredible generosity of the country club as you might be able to see if you come out here.

This is just exactly in people's backyards.

We were able to complete our major cleanup operations.

43 days after the tornado, which is now allowed us to we find ourselves deep in the recovery and rebuilding process, too.

>> See how far they've come, both feeling emotionally and, you know, it's pretty incredible.

>> Final story tonight, Lexington native Julia Perry was a prominent African-American female composer, Kentucky life recently explored Perry's life and work with the Lexington Philharmonic.

Take a look.

So Julia Perry is a composer that lets born in 1924.

In Lexington, Kentucky.

>> She died in 1979.

And in her life.

She was a singer.

She with the conductor and she wrote incredible music.

♪ >> She wrote opera.

She wrote symphonies.

She wrote Chamber music.

And she was quite accomplished in her life.

She won several Guggenheim Fellowships.

She studied at Westminster Choir college, but yet.

Her music, if not as well known as perhaps it should be given the incredible talent that she had in the music that she wrote.

♪ >> She >> had incredible success that many American composers, regardless of gender or race just did not have.

It was a little bit later in her life when she had multiple strokes and it impacted her ability to write where she just was kind of quickly forgotten and neglected.

so when I think of the story of Julia Perry, I think that yes, her gender, it's important.

Her race is important, but also as a person with a disability.

But that also had a huge impact on her life and career.

And it's really the intersection of all of those different identities and influences that ultimately, I think lead to.

You know, kind of where her career went and how her career ended.

We are.

Well, the thing.

>> Should get back home.

After nearly 100 years.

>> So the stop of Mater has a has a Latin text.

It's about the moment where Jesus is on the cross and Mary is with him in those final moments.

And then I think artistically, I mean, her music, crew credible and they're such a deaths.

>> And beauty and >> ferocious.

I'm just energy and and development of themes.

And, you know, that's just all the all everything there that you think of when you think of great music.

♪ ♪ There are 4 values that are very important to WLEX bill and they are excellence.

Innovation, collaboration and accessibility.

And when we see that right up the street from where we you know, there was born this incredible composer who had this amazing career and wrote great music.

It's absolutely our responsibility to contribute to sharing that music, celebrating the music, getting it out there in the community.

Coming up tomorrow night.

More help is on the way to Kentuckyian who lost everything in the eastern Kentucky.

Flawed is among those helping the UK men's basketball team.

>> The cats are having an open practice right now at Rupp Arena in Lexington, accepting donations from fans.

And you'll see some of that tomorrow night on Kentucky edition at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central.

I sure hope you'll join us.

Take really good care.

And I'll see you tomorrow night.

♪