Flash flooding killed at least four people across Kentucky after heavy rainfall inundated roads and flooded homes, where emergency crews carried out 60 water rescues and evacuations across the state, BBC News reported Sunday.
Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency as the disaster unfolded and said he would seek both public and individual federal assistance to support recovery efforts in affected communities.
Three of the four deaths occurred in Madison County and one in Jackson County, officials said. Beshear had said up to 7 inches of rain was expected in parts of the state as thunderstorms swept through the region Saturday.
The heavy rainfall inundated roads across central Kentucky, stranding motorists and cutting off access to neighborhoods. Emergency crews responded to calls throughout the state as residents became trapped in vehicles and in their homes by rising flood waters.
Rescue crews continued searching for survivors Sunday as officials worked to assess the full extent of the damage. Communities across Kentucky were left with widespread destruction from the flooding.
Beshear declared states of emergency in nine counties, reporting that bridges and roads had been washed away and that emergency crews had conducted multiple water rescues.