Speaking to emergency workers who responded to the 48-hour blast of rainfall, Madison County's judge-executive said the experience was a new one for him, one which hit hard with the loss of three residents. Still, without a coordinated response, officials said the death toll could have easily been higher.
During a tour of the damage in hard-hit Madison County, Gov. Beshear said the floodwaters rose surprisingly fast in some regions.
"We saw more rain in areas than I think we have ever seen over a very short period of time," he noted.
Counties are still assessing the damage, but as soon as those reports are complete and delivered to the federal government, Beshear said he believes federal aid will be approved, at least on the state and county level.
"I'm going to push as hard as I can. This ought to be a slam dunk for assistance with what it's done to roads, bridges, and infrastructure. I think counties like (Madison)... and certainly Cumberland County, where I just came from, should get individual assistance," the governor said.
Key to obtaining that more personalized aid is individual reporting. State officials said affected Kentuckians need to document their losses — both in photos and by creating an inventory of what's been lost. The website to visit: kyem.gov.
If FEMA assistance is approved, it will mark the 16th weather disaster to receive a federal declaration since Beshear took office in December 2019.