♪ ♪ >> We've been through lines.

We lost a lot of people along the way.

>> Parts of the state are once again under water as historic flooding claims lives and that in every Kentucky County.

>> Right around trying to get pa hoping that it won't get so far that their stuff gets destroyed.

Bet.

There's always that chance.

>> Flooding forces a breath of county family from their home for a second time.

Why they say this time was more difficult.

>> FEMA needs to be reformed.

I welcome.

The Department of Government efficiency taking a searching review of that agency and how it responds.

>> Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr response to President Trump's argument to eliminate the department that response to natural disasters as the state deals with more destruction.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Monday.

It's February the 17th, I'm Renee Shaw and we thank you for spending some of your Monday night with us search and rescue operations are still under way following yet another deadly Kentucky flied Governor Andy Beshear confirms at least 11 deaths.

3 people were killed and both Hart and Pike counties, one person was killed and Nelson Clay, Washington Harden and Floyd counties, all 120 of Kentucky's counties were under a flood watch over the weekend on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Kentucky's emergency declaration, freeing up federal funds to help respond to the disaster and authorizing FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts.

The governor's office says more than 1000 people were rescued.

And the first 24 hours since the storm hit currently over 9,000 customers are still without power.

And 17,000 are without water.

Though the rain and snow have stopped more than 340 state and federal roads are still closed across Kentucky, which Governor Beshear said is likely a record number most because of flooding others because of mud and rock slides.

You can see a live list of major road closures online at Go.

K why DOT K Y dot Gov.

Speaking from the state's Emergency Management Center this morning, the governor thanked crews who were helping people keeping them safe.

>> Our first responders in some instances of been working for 2 to 3 days, many without much sleep.

And the work that they have done is incredible.

We are grateful for the local, the state, the national and even the crews coming in from other places that are helping our people find safety and find shelter during what is continuing to be one of the most challenging weather events that we have faced.

>> The governor then headed to Pike County, which was hit hard by the storms.

That's where state police evacuated 100 patients from a nursing home.

An Elkhorn, many of the patients were carried by Ksp Pike County escaped the worst of the 2022 floods.

But Judge executive Ray Jones says the county wasn't as fortunate this time around.

>> This storm is much more extensive than the July.

28 2022.

Florida, then as Florida's Pike County.

Now some of our neighboring counties.

You know, Brett, the county, not county Perry County had catastrophic Letcher County has a lot more damage in 2022, this was different than even that storm because this involves both the tug fork in the lavazza for for the big thing.

The both a cleaning Christie pet will past flood stage both Rivers, both both the force of the other river into the and near major flood stage.

We do not have a total on the number of individuals who are unaccounted for at this point.

That's why we're trying to KET rosters and the shoulders that we have set up so that we can, you know, send those to the state police to compare to see whether any of the individuals who may have been may have been reported missing or checking into any of the shelters at this point time.

This is still under a risk.

You effort and then obviously in the in the days to come will transition purely into a recovery effort.

But we do have search and rescue teams out in the field today with search and rescue teams.

Local teams.

We also have teams that have been sent in from Louisville, Morehead, Indiana, and North Carolina and other areas to you.

People who are special and his specialized training in search and rescue a swift water rescue.

The rivers are going down even though that a 4th has been slower going down in La Voz, the Fort.

We know of 10 county road bridges that have been completely destroyed, that that those communities are are totally cut off.

So one of the things we're gonna have to do the next couple of days is figure out a plan to get to.

Those folks will weigh in and out.

But it is massive damage.

It is substantially worse than 2022, both for Pike in terms of loss of life and damage, too private property.

The landmark bill for city nursing home was evacuated about half of 100 patients 102 patients were taken to private medical center.

The other half were house in the local church say of us.

Want to see all those patients have since been moved back into the facility.

A tug or its hospital in South Williamson.

Has a flood wall around it.

It was cut off from the ingress and egress and there was some concern about the the water breaching or going over top of the flood wall.

You know, there's one mobile home Park Drive also of us.

23 in colder.

And I would say there's probably somewhere close to 30 mobile homes that have been destroyed just in that one small area.

The Whittington Plaza shopping center, every business in it has had substantial damage.

If not the total told me just a total loss damage ace hardware, JC Penney, Sherwin-Williams.

A lot of businesses and that one area totally, totally devastated.

In the.

A lot of homes.

We don't have a number.

We are in the process of trying to assist name is we slice it.

We still have areas we can't even get into because bridges and roads are washed up.

It's going to be down between 11 to 15 degrees on in the knot on Wednesday, Thursday and into Friday.

It makes clean it very difficult.

You know, obviously with freezing water hoses, homes with no power where it's going to be extremely cold.

And we also want to caution anyone could not be listening to this is going to have to use space heaters or propane her tears singer some type of supplemental heat to make sure that they take all precautions both for carbon monoxide in potential fire is we've had those events happened not only here, but across Kentucky.

>> And that's an important note to One place hit hard by this round of severe flooding and in 2022 Brad Pitt County on Friday.

The county set up an emergency shelter on the campus of the hazard community and Technical College in Jackson.

That's where Kentucky Edition met one family who sought shelter after flood waters forced them from their home.

Like many impressive county.

It's a trauma that they have lived through before.

>> The North Fork part of the river is right behind our house and the water is normally at its regular time.

It's a Cold day.

We noticed that the water was extremely high as far as closer to the House.

And it was at the point that if we didn't lane shortly after we would be able to get in or out.

So we kind of sort of grab what we could grab and loaded up and left.

This makes the second flood that we actually have.

Had to pack up.

And now for some people.

>> This is the 3rd time I've started over some of them in the same place.

And unfortunately, some of them have moved every time.

It is a huge impact on the mental health of our survivors.

The first one that we experienced it didn't really get us as bad.

But now this one here, it just I watched it.

>> Hour by hour, the water coming into the the bank in into the yard and my kids watching them pack up their stuff out of their bedrooms that they work so hard to get everything just straighten up in organized and put together and a little girl.

She she started crying when we told her, hey, we got to pack up and we've got to have things ready.

And they had their little backpacks sitting by the front door ready to go as soon as we walked out, you know, and just thinking about all the the things that they have and that they've lost from before and that they managed to accumulate.

It's all right.

They are and run around trying to get pa hoping that it won't get so far that their stuff gets destroyed.

Bet there's always that chance and I do now I don't worry about my things because they're just.

Material things.

But to look at the stuff that they have already lost and that they have gathered back up and have been.

Things like that and now and that they have to walk away and leave it.

Come back and it possibly not even be there.

And it just.

It's truly.

It just it.

It's it's it's truly just.

They're my world, my everything.

And just seeing them heartbroken it just it.

Heres me apart.

>> They're not victims.

They are survivors and his heart is it ia is for the unfair them to think that they have to start over.

We want them to know that we want to be here to support them.

We do not want night will them to just survive.

We want to empower them to thrive that way.

They are might they're building There have been protective factors.

They're reducing risk factors and we are building a stronger community along the way.

We've kind of made the hashtag grant that strong because this is our 3rd time and we will come back from the U.S. and we hope to come back stronger, better prepared.

And we've kind of said it from day one.

We want to build breath it back.

Better.

>> I just feel like it's this community has bill so much as far as being together and strength and compassion and everything toward everybody.

I mean, it's it's amazing.

It really is right that strong.

I guess they call a spread that strong.

>> Breath that strong, indeed.

Perry County is also experiencing significant flooding.

The north folk, 4 of the Kentucky River crested yesterday just below major flood stage.

Still, the river jumped its banks in many areas, including and hazard.

Then Childers shared this incredible drone video of the area showing just how much damage there is.

To South Central Kentucky where a mother and child have died after their car was swept away by flood waters.

It happened on Bacon Creek and the Bonneville community.

Our Laura Rodgers brings us more from Hart County is our Kentucky floods.

Coverage continues.

It came down like from goalie washers, Saturday's torrential downpour dropping more than 4.3 inches of rain on Hart County.

>> In a single day.

>> It's flooded every where we have had so much rain.

The banks, the creeks can handle that much rain.

That includes Bacon Creek Ambani bill known to rise when there's heavy rainfall have seen the Banking creek out of its banks.

Many times this time turning deadly.

It's >> tragic time.

The whole park County, a woman and her 7 year-old daughter driving onto the flooded campground road Saturday Night Car got stuck.

>> And that being swept away into the tree line over here.

Behind me corner Anthony Roberts says the victim Amy Philpott's was able to call someone who alerted first responders from service down here is not real well and she actually got out to somebody.

Police, fire and rescue agencies from across the county responding to the scene, recovering the child's body Saturday evening.

We worked up to probably think was 2 o'clock in the morning before we finally had to call.

>> The rescue because it got too treacherous to search.

And rescue efforts resumed Sunday morning.

The car and Phil Kuntz body were recovered Sunday afternoon.

>> Our community is devastated, really devastated by this.

>> Class.

And as a lifelong resident of it, though, thank you, Chris.

Cotter Creek.

In a lot of times.

People would say it's a river in full, fairly large creek.

They deny when he and his family have lived on campground road for 10 years says the bridge is often under water after heavy rainfall.

The approach to the bridge is a sharp turn to the left.

We could easily come up on water and not know it.

I just can't get home.

Jonelle Reynolds lives in the neighboring Price poll.

I had to stay in a hotel room last night.

Her road impassable due to flood waters.

We are sitting here.

It came around her watching the water to go down and hopefully pray to God that we can get in this afternoon or tonight since this interview, the water receding for Reynolds to return home.

And it's not just body Ville and Hart County affected by flash flooding.

>> Here at Munfordville at Selma Stovall Park, the Green River overflowing its banks waiving the playground equipment, picnic area and soccer field all under water for Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you so much, Laura.

The weekend rainfall impacted some parts of the state more than others with a wide range of rain totals from 2 inches to more than 6 inches.

Meteorologist Chris T-dot and takes a look at the numbers from the weekend at a look at the next storm headed our way.

>> Torrential downpours, flood warnings that took its toll across the state over the weekend.

Hey, take a look at some of these numbers.

Are rainfall totals in inches from Saturday and Sunday.

You can see some of the heaviest rain, the most rain here in portions of South central in western Kentucky.

In some areas they're pushing 6 even close to 7 inches of rain, including portions of Madisonville in Hopkinsville in eastern Kentucky.

We have areas there around 5 inches, 4 inches in some areas.

Farther north closer to that 3 inch mark because of the terrain in eastern Kentucky that proved to be even more problematic and really increase that risk of flooding in that location.

Now, river flooding is still something that is a major issue for across the state, but especially for eastern Kentucky where they have a lot of roadways covered still in flood in, still dealing with some of those water levels.

Still going up.

Take a look at this river flooding from the National Weather Service.

Now we still are experiencing some moderate flooding around the big Sandy River Basin.

Also along the Kentucky River.

And that includes some areas in major flood stage in some crest that didn't some Crescent had not yet occurred.

So that means the water level still going up in just a few locations.

That includes the Rolling Fork River near Boston.

Even the Green River in Barron River down toward Bowling Green, still in moderate to major flood stage right now.

Earlier today, I spoke to a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Jackson, Kentucky, Peter Jerriann and he said there are still a lot of things that residents need to KET in mind, even as those water levels start to go down.

>> For those that have lived here a while and that live near the river.

They kind of know when it comes of what to do.

But especially like after the flood, you know, you don't want to wade through water.

You don't know where that that waters carrying all kinds of debris and there could be, you know, risk of just different thing.

There's different things in the water that mixes in during a flood that or not not good for humans.

Basically.

So you want to stay out of flood waters if you can.

Of course, you don't want to have an electrical equipment with water because of the risk of electrocution.

You want to try to stay out of a flooded roads?

Of course, you know, we always say turn around, don't drown.

You don't know the condition of the road underneath that water, especially at night.

You don't know what the condition of the roadway may be underneath that water.

So it's just important to KET yourself safe in any way that you can.

>> Thank you, Peter.

And as we take a look ahead instead of rainfall, we're going to be talking about snow.

Our next winter storm is expected to arrive in Kentucky Tuesday night lasting throughout the day on Wednesday.

That could leave some areas with 2 to 6 inches of snowfall.

For Kentucky edition.

I'm Christie that an.

Thank you, Christine.

>> If you or a loved one may need a place to stay.

There are a dozen emergency shelter set up across the state.

♪ ♪ Governor Andy Beshear has launched the team.

Kentucky Storm Relief Fund to help victims of this most recent flooding event.

A similar fund was created after the eastern Kentucky flooding in 2022.

Add the deadly tornado outbreak in western Kentucky and 2021.

Those funds were scrutinized, though, by state lawmakers.

2023 State auditor's report of the tornado relief on found payments of nearly $240,000 or less than one percent of the total raised were made by mistake.

Governor Beshear says the new fawn will first be used to pay for victims.

Funerals, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers says the state legislature is also ready to help.

He called the damage he's seen.

Heartbreaking in a statement to the Republican from Clay County said, quote, the Senate stands ready to support recovery efforts and the Kentucky ends impacted by this disaster.

End quote, the Legislature did not meet today as it's Presidents Day.

They will reconvene tomorrow for day 13 of the 30 day 2025.

General Assembly in regular session.

When it comes to the nation's disaster response.

Emergency, FEMA, Kentucky Central Kentucky congressman says it should be reformed, leaned out a more competent.

What's more U.S. Representative Andy Barr blast the Federal Emergency Management Agency for what he calls discrimination against small rural communities.

I talked with bar earlier today about Kentucky's flooding and the role of FEMA and this first installment of Congressional Update.

We know that the Trump administration has he is reshaping looking to downsize government and is also looking at FEMA and the Department of Government efficiency has called FEMA.

I ineffective and inefficient.

How do you see FEMA's role in particular time right now here in Kentucky when so many are relying on that federal assistance.

What do you think the role of FEMA should be?

>> Well, first of all, our thoughts and prayers go to those families in Eastern Kentucky have lost loved ones.

The count is 9 fatality so far but loss of property as well.

We've seen that here in Central Kentuckyian not too long ago when that Storm Powell County, what we've terrible flooding that impacts our communities and Nicholas County had a terrible flood.

A few years back.

So FEMA obviously has a role to play, but we saw some really unfortunate incompetency and right now, Fees Inc in FEMA's response to the hurricane that hit North Carolina, Western North Carolina obviously the California wildfires is a different issue as well because of some things that we we could do differently in terms of force management n prevention of forest fires.

But FEMA needs to be modernized.

FEMA needs to be reformed.

I welcome.

The Department of Government efficiency taking a searching review of that agency and how it responds to give you an example of how FEMA did not adequately respond in our own district a few years back.

We had a terrible flood.

In Carlisle and Nicholas County and there was a hurricane in Louisiana and there were a lot of manufactured homes, emergency housing, shelter that was being shipped right through Nicholas County on its way to New Orleans, but not stopping there.

And FEMA was telling me and I went all the way the top I went to the administrator.

This is during the Biden administration asked why can't we get assistance and rapid assistance to the people?

Of Nicholas County and there was 90 some odd homes totally destroyed.

And the answer was it's too small.

The community.

Well, that was a very unsatisfying response.

And we saw that in western North Carolina where you even had the politicization of the delivery of assistance where FEMA officials were skipping over homes with Trump and signs in the front yard.

That kind of thing is ridiculous.

You know, they're Democrats who suffer in tragedies like this.

There are Republicans who suffer in natural disasters like this.

Politics should stay out of it.

What do you think needs to happen?

Doesn't need to be scratched.

>> And rebuilt or just tweak.

Some voted for for disaster assistance in the past.

But we need a better, more efficient, effective delivery system.

I actually work with congressman former Congressman Katko from New York a few years back was chairman of the Homeland Security.

>> Committee actually at the time I think he was the ranking member.

We're in the minority, but we work with Democrats to pass a bill that would make these smaller communities eligible for assistance.

>> Now will share more of my conversation with Congressman Barr tomorrow night.

When I ask him about his future political ambitions and running for the U.S. Senate in 2 years.

>> Will he or won't he?

>> It has been the privilege of my lifetime to get a chance to go and fight for these families and fight for the people of Toyota and fight for the researchers at the University, Kentuckyian fight for the bourbon industry and fight for our farmers.

You know, and fight for the horse.

Our signature horse industry.

And I think we've done a pretty good job.

I am.

I'm interested in taking that state.

Why?

Because I love Kentucky.

I love the people of Kentuckyian I'm getting a lot of green lights.

>> So find out if he's willing to wage a primary challenge against Mitch McConnell in Twenty-twenty 6.

If McConnell doesn't retire the answer to that and more with Congressman Barr tomorrow night on Kentucky edition.

Now, Barr isn't the only one with the U.S. Senate race in his sights.

Nate Morris, a Republican businessman, says he's considering a run for the same seat next year.

He posted video last week where he criticized some of the other potential candidates.

>> We'll tell you what they are not going to do.

I'm not gonna let Mitch McConnell dictate whether our run or not.

This week.

I've seen some comments from a couple potential candidates for Senate and suggesting they will only wrong.

It's Mitch McConnell decides to retire.

And I think that's exactly what's wrong with our politics today and why we have so many politicians in Washington who are so weak that they constantly full to the left.

If you're asking for permission for Mitch McConnell to run for the Senate here in Kentucky, the should be running in the first place because you're not running for the right reasons.

Which McConnell unfortunately has sold Kentucky conservatives out for years now he's turned his back on us and he's turned his back on President Trump.

He even voted against paid head south for Defense secretary.

The last thing Kentucky needs is another week Republican who is nothing more than a puppet for Mitch McConnell.

>> Senator McConnell recently voted against Trump nominees, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert Kennedy junior.

He questioned their qualifications and judgment just as he did for P Texas.

♪ >> Tonight we look back at the creation of what would eventually become the Daniel Boone National Forest.

>> And the sale of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Our Joe Gibbs has all of that.

And this look at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> Henry Clay Junior son of the famous Kentucky statement was shot and killed during the Mexican war battle of when a vista on February 23rd 18.

47.

In the U.S. patent office approved Nathan be Stubblefield at and mechanical telephone on February.

21st 18 88 during his lifetime Stubblefield of Murray invented an acoustical telephone that didn't use electricity and electric battery and a type of wireless telephone similar to radio.

Happy Birthday to jockey Eddie, our Cairo born February 1919, 16.

>> It was born in Cincinnati, but he has a Kentucky connection.

He won 5 Kentucky Derbies and won the Triple Crown twice.

The only jockey to do so.

President Franklin Roosevelt established the Cumberland National Forest on February 23rd 1937.

At first to contain 350,000 acres in 16 counties.

State Senator Eddie Kelly introduced a resolution on February 17.

1966 asking to change the forest names of the Daniel Boone National Forest, which eventually happen today.

The Forest as 709,000 acres in 21 counties.

I know Arlen Sanders so Kentucky Fried chicken.

The Jon why Brown Junior and Jack Massey for 2 million dollars on February 18, 1964.

But Colonel Sanders State on as company spokesperson.

And those are the highlights this weekend, Kentucky history, I'm told, begins.

>> Thank Youto.

They've got to do it for us tonight.

More storm coverage tomorrow and we have coverage from Frankfort of the Kentucky General Assembly.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for watching.

We'll see you tomorrow night.

♪