WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Cumberland River in Whitley County is expected to crest at 32.5 feet Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Emergency Management crews spent Friday responding to calls for help from people around the county.
“We have a lot of flash flooding but it’s usually up one day, down the next. Most people know it’s coming. They prepare for it,” said Danny Moses, Whitley County Emergency Management Director.
Moses said his day began at 4 a.m. with a water search for 75-year-old Ronnie Bryant who never showed up for work in Whitley County. From there, he responded to a call from parents trapped in their flooded house with a 6-month-old child running a high fever. He also delivered medicine to two families by boat and helped pull out two vehicles stuck in several feet of water.
Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency in eight southeastern counties affected by flooding. Those counties are Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley.
“We are acting swiftly to ensure the safety and security of Kentucky families and communities that have been impacted,” said Beshear in a statement.
There are currently no deaths reported in Kentucky as a result of the severe weather.
