2022 – July 27-28 downpour, flash flooding, eastern KY, esp. Knott/19, Breathitt/8, Perry/7 Counties –>39

— 39 Gov. Beshear in Times-Tribune, Corbin, KY. “Beshear updates on…flooding…” 8-21-2022.
— 8 Breathitt
— 2 Clay
–19 Knott
— 3 Letcher
— 7 Perry
— 39 Courier Journal, Louisville. “Eastern Kentucky flooding…death toll…39…” 8-11-2022.
–38 direct
— 1 indirect (Aaron “Mick” Crawford, 18)
— 39 Gov. Beshear tweet Aug 12. WSAZ, Huntington WV. “Death toll rises again…[KY] flooding.”
— 37 Associated Press. “Eastern Kentucky flooding: Death toll rises to 37.”8-4-2022.
— 8 Breathitt County
— 2 Clay County
–17 Knott County
— 3 Letcher County
— 7 Perry County
— 37 Courier Journal, Louisville. “Eastern Kentucky flooding: As death toll reaches 37…” 8-1-2022.
— 7 Breathitt County
— 2 Clay County
–16 Knott County
— 3 Letcher County (according to County Coroner Renee Campbell)
— 7 Perry County (according to Deputy Coroner Jeff Combs)
— 35 CNN. “[KY] flooding death toll rises to 35…hundreds remain unaccounted for.” 8-1-2022.
–>30 Fox Weather. “Historic Kentucky flooding: At least 30 dead as search continues…” 8-1-2022.
— 7 Breathitt County
— 2 Clay County
–16 Knott County
— 28 NYT. “What We Know About the Victims in the Kentucky Flooding.” 7-31-2022.
— 28 WYMT.com (Cameron Aaron), Hazard, KY. “One Knott County flood victim identified.” 7-31-2022
— 26 AP. “Death toll in Kentucky hits 26 amid renewed flood threat.” Joplin Globe, 7-31-2022.
–>25 CBS News. “Governor: Search for victims in Kentucky floods…19 lives.” 7-30-2022.
–>16 CNN. “At least 16 people are dead after Kentucky’s catastrophic flooding…” 7-29-2022.

Breakout of Kentucky Flooding Fatalities by Locality:
— 8 Breathitt County. Gov. Andy Beshear announcement August 21.
— 9 Breathitt County. Gov. Andy Beshear announcements August 4 and 12.
–1 Bowling Creek. Gary Combs, 61.
–1 Clayhole. Ruby Cundiff, 59.
–1 Clayhole. Jeanette Johnson, 65.
–1 Hardshell. Helen Campbell, 82. Died at home.
–1 Hardshell. Gilla Ann Miller, 83. Found dead in her flooded home.
–1 Lost Creek, Lower River Caney Road. Vanesa Baker, 60, missing.
–1 Lost Creek, Lower River Caney Road. Nancy Cundiff, 29, missing.
–1 Lost Creek, Lower River Caney Road. Amy Henson 40.
–1 Locale not noted. Gov. Beshear tweet Aug 12.
–1 Locale not noted. Female; “complication of flooding,” EMS aid blocked for hours.
— 2 Clay County, Oneida community near Manchester. Man 76, woman, late 60s-early 70s.
–1 Walter Hinkle, 76. “Washed out of his house” according to Deputy Coroner.
–1 Brenda Webb, 81.
— 1 Fayette Co, Lexington hospital. Aaron “Mick” Crawford, 18, volunteer recovery worker.
–19 Knott County. KY Gov. Beshear announcement 8-21-2022. (Missing three names.)
–18 Knott County. KY Gov. Beshear announcement 8-11-2022.
–1 Carrie. Tommy Lynn Cornett, 61.
–2 Fisty. Betty Beaver, 73, and Bobby Junior Beaver, 46.
–2 Fisty. Adam Combs, 75, and wife Elizabeth Mae Combs, 71.
–5 Hindman.
–1 Diana Amburgey, 65.
–1 Rita Hall, 78.
–2 James Miller, 73, and Carol Miller, 72, of Ary Community.
–1 Caster Clark Slone, 74.
–4 Montgomery. Four siblings according to Knott County coroner.
–1 Chance Noble, 18 months. –1 Maddison Noble, 8.
–1 Nevaeh Noble, 4. –1 Riley Noble Jr. 6.
–1 Pine Top. Rosa Lee “Rosie” Vick, 55.
–1 Pippa Passes. Eva Nicole “Nikki” Slone, 50.
— 3 Letcher County. Andy Beshear announcement August 4.
–1 Isom. Betty Jean Estep, 67.
–1 Whitesburg. Clarence Sturgill, 79.
–1 Whitesburg. Jewel Sturgill, 65.
— 7 Perry County. Statement by Perry County Deputy Coroner Jeff Combs. [missing 3 names]
–1 Big Willard Road area. Statement by Perry County Deputy Coroner Jeff Combs.
–1 Chavies community. Nellie Mae Howard, 82. Washed out of home.
–1 Dwarf. James Miller, 73, of Knott County recovered in Perry County. on KY-550.
–3 Highway 476 vicinity. Statement by Perry County Deputy Coroner Jeff Combs.
–1 Rowdy, David Campbell, 78. Found dead in his home.
–1 Rowdy community. Body of Dennis Stacy, 71, recovered July 31.
–2 Troublesome Creek near KY Rt. 476. two elderly women; bodies recovered July 31.
–1 Locality not noted. Gabe Hensley, 30; truck was swept away by flood water.

Breakout of Kentucky Flood Fatalities by Name

Name Age Locality County

1. Amburgey, Diana 65 Hindman Knott
2. Baker, Vanessa (missing) 60 Lost Creek, Lower River Caney Rd. Breathitt
3. Beaver, Betty 73 Fisty Knott
4. Beaver, Bobby Junior 46 Fisty Knott
5. Campbell, David 78 Rowdy Perry
6. Campbell, Helen 82 Hardshell Breathitt
7. Combs, Adam 75 Fisty Knott
8. Combs, Elizabeth May 71 Fisty Knott
9. Combs, Gary 61 Bowling Creek Breathitt
10. Cornett, Tommy Lynn 61 Carrie Knott
11. Crawford, Aaron “Mick” 18 Lexington Hospital Fayette
12. Cundiff, Nancy (missing) 29 Lost Creek, Lower River Caney Rd. Breathitt
13. Cundiff, Ruby 69 Clayhole Breathitt
14. Estep, Betty Jean 67 Isom Letcher
15. Hall, Rita 78 Hindman Knott
16. Hensley, Gabriel “Gabe” 30 Perry
17. Henson, Amy 40 Lower River Caney Road Breathitt
18. Hinkle, Walter 76 Oneida community near Manchester Clay
19. Howard, Nellie Mae 82 Chavies community Perry
20. Johnson, Jeanette 65 Clayhole Breathitt
21. Miller, Carol, wife of James) 72 Hindman Knott
22. Miller, Gilla Ann 83 Hardshell Breathitt
23. Miller, James (husband of Carol) 73 Hindman Knott
24. Noble, Chance 18 mo. Montgomery Knott
25. Noble, Maddison 8 Montgomery Knott
26. Noble, Nevaeh 4 Montgomery Knott
27. Noble, Riley Jr. 6 Montgomery Knott
28. Slone, Caster Clark 74 Hindman Knott
29. Slone, Eva Nicole 50 Pippa Passes Knott
30. Stacy, Dennis 71 Rowdy community Perry
31. Sturgill, Clarence 79 Whitesburg Letcher
32. Sturgill, Jewel 65 Whitesburg Letcher
33. Vick, Rosa Lee “Rosie” 55 Pine Top Knott
34. Webb, Brenda 81 Oneida community near Manchester Clay
Narrative Information

July 28: “At least eight people have died in widespread flooding in eastern Kentucky following heavy overnight rains, the governor said Thursday — an inundation he says will be ‘one of the most significant, deadly floods’ in the commonwealth’s history. ‘This is an ongoing natural disaster, with more rain expected tonight that could worsen the situation. The death toll has heartbreakingly risen to 8 Kentuckians lost,’ Gov. Andy Beshear tweeted….

“Portions of Kentucky around Hazard received more than 9 inches of rain from Wednesday into Thursday morning, according to National Weather Service radar estimates and local observers. The rain in eastern Kentucky overwhelmed creeks, streams and ground already saturated from previous rain, the weather service said….” (CNN. “At least 8 dead in eastern Kentucky flooding, and ‘hundreds will lose their homes,’ governor says.” 7-28-2022.)

July 29: “(CNN) — At least 16 people are dead following catastrophic flooding in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Friday [July 29]. That number is expected to double and includes children, he told CNN earlier, as rescuers scramble to reach areas difficult to access. ‘It’s going to get a lot higher,’ Beshear said at a news conference Friday morning….’This is so deadly, and it hit so hard, and it hit in the middle of the night,’ the governor said, adding that although eastern Kentucky often floods, ‘we’ve never seen something like this.’….’Whole roads washed out — we still can’t get to a lot of people. There is so much water. The current is so strong. It is not safe for some of the water rescues that we need to do,’ Beshear said.

“Swollen floodwaters washed out bridges, wiped out power and sent some residents scrambling to their rooftops as water gushed into their homes. Some families’ houses and cars were submerged or swept away completely by the flooding, which has been exacerbated by creeks and grounds already soaked from ongoing rainfall….

“People around the city of Hazard, in the southeast of Kentucky, are ‘so overwhelmed, we don’t really know what to ask for,’ Mayor Donald “Happy” Mobelini told CNN Friday morning. ‘In downtown Hazard, we don’t really have a ton of property damage here. But in the outlying areas, it’s devastating,’ said Mobelini. Some houses are flooded that have stood for 50 or even 75 years without water ever coming close to them, he said. Seven of the city’s nine bridges are impassable, and ‘that’s unheard of,’ the mayor said. The town is bracing for news of more deaths, he said….

“An elderly man and woman died after being swept from their homes in the Oneida Community near Manchester, Kentucky, according to Clay County Coroner Jarrod Becknell. The man was 76 years old and the woman was in her late 60s or early 70s, Deputy Coroner Joe Crockett said….

“Kentucky State Police are asking residents of at least eight counties to call them if they have missing family members and to provide information on their loved ones. The counties include Wolfe, Owsley, Breathitt, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Pike and Perry….” (CNN. “At least 16 people are dead after Kentucky’s catastrophic flooding, and the death toll is expected to rise.” 7-29-2022.)

July 31: “Hindman, Ky. (AP) – The number of deaths from massive flooding in Kentucky continued to climb on Sunday amid a renewed threat of more heavy rains. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said on NBC’s “Meet The Press” that the death toll had risen by one to 26 from last week’s storms. Beshear has said the number would likely rise significantly and it could take weeks to find all the victims. As many as 37 people were unaccounted for, according to a daily briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency….

“Beshear said state police were taking calls from worried people who can’t locate loved ones due to spotty cell phone service. ‘We still can’t get into some areas to check on people,’ Beshear said. ‘We’re doubling our National Guard. We’re going to work to go door to door, work to find, again, as many people as we can. We’re even going to work through the rain. But the weather is complicating it.’….” (Associated Press (Bruce Schreiner). “Death toll in Kentucky hits 26 amid renewed flood threat.” Joplin Globe, 7-31-2022.)

Sources

Associated Press (Bruce Schreiner). “Death toll in Kentucky hits 26 amid renewed flood threat.” Joplin Globe, 7-31-2022. Accessed 7-31-2022 at: https://www.joplinglobe.com/region/death-toll-in-kentucky-hits-26-amid-renewed-flood-threat/article_db0f331c-23e0-54d7-9242-b80ee0314243.html

Associated Press. “Eastern Kentucky flooding: Death toll rises to 37.”8-4-2022. Accessed 8-4-2022 at: https://www.wlwt.com/article/eastern-kentucky-flooding-deaths-weather-damage-appalachia/40782695#

Associated Press. “Kentucky Flood Survivors Turn to Grim Task: Burying the Dead. 8-5-2022. Accessed 8-6-2022 at: https://www.voanews.com/a/kentucky-flood-survivors-turn-to-grim-task-burying-the-dead-/6689067.html

Associated Press (Lovan, Schreiner, Brown). “Search for Kentucky flood victims could take weeks.” 7-30-2022. Accessed 7-30-2022 at: https://apnews.com/article/floods-storms-science-kentucky-jackson-519185ea0be464c61ce76477359b019f

CBS News/AP. “Governor: Search for victims in Kentucky floods could take weeks in storm that claimed at least 19 lives.” 7-30-2022. Accessed 7/30/2022 at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-flooding-power-outages-deaths/

CNN. “At least 8 dead in eastern Kentucky flooding, and ‘hundreds will lose their homes,’ governor says.” 7-28-2022. Accessed 7-28-2022 at: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/28/weather/kentucky-flash-flooding/index.html

CNN (Elizabeth Wolfe and Theresa Waldrop). “At least 16 people are dead after Kentucky’s catastrophic flooding, and the death toll is expected to rise.” 7-29-2022. Accessed 7-29-2022 at: https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/29/weather/kentucky-appalachia-flooding-friday/index.html

CNN (Elizabeth Wolfe and Dakin Andone). “Kentucky flooding death toll rises to 35 as governor says hundreds remain unaccounted for.” 8-1-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/01/weather/kentucky-appalachia-flooding-monday/index.html

Courier Journal (Jonathan Bullington, Billy Kobin, Eleanor McCrary), Louisville, KY. “Eastern Kentucky flooding: As death toll reaches 39 victims, here are the names we know.” 8-11-2022. Accessed 8-17-2022 at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/eastern-kentucky-flooding-death-toll-232155886.html

Courier Journal (Jonathan Bullington, Billy Kobin, Eleanor McCrary), Louisville. “Eastern Kentucky flooding: As death toll reaches 37 victims, here are the names we know.” 8-1-2022. Accessed 8-2-2022 at: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2022/08/01/eastern-kentucky-flooding-victims-death-toll-at-37-the-names-we-know/65387593007/

DailyMail.com. “Heroic high school football player, 18, who bravely helped recovery efforts in Kentucky flood dies from ‘mysterious’ illness three days after volunteering as death toll hits 39.” 8-11-2022. Accessed 8-12-2022 at: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11102597/Heroic-Kentucky-high-schooler-18-dies-falling-mysteriously-ill-helping-flood-victims.html

Deseret News (Lois M. Collins), Salt Lake City, UT. “What’s known about the victims of the Kentucky flood.” 8-3-2022. Accessed 8-4-2022 at: https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2022/8/3/23290414/dead-eastern-kentucky-2022-flooding-swept-away-died-who-were-victims-massive-rainstorm-appalachia

EMS1. “Ky. Woman with chest pain dies after ambulance blocked by floodwaters.” 8-1-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.ems1.com/flooding/articles/ky-woman-with-chest-pain-dies-after-ambulance-blocked-by-floodwaters-5AQAt4cFrNmLzJBb/

Fox Weather (Brian Donegan, Andrew Wulfeck, Emilee Speck, Chris Oberholtz, Heather Brinkmann). “Historic Kentucky flooding: At least 30 dead as search continues; more rain expected this week.” 8-1-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/flash-flood-emergency-kentucky-thursday

Jackson-Breathitt County Times-Voice. “Flood Death toll up to 7 in Breathitt County.” 8-3-2022. Accessed 8-4-2022 at: https://www.nolangroupmedia.com/jackson_times_voice/flood-death-toll-up-to-7-in-breathitt-county/article_ee223470-1357-11ed-a49e-93f0bddb5012.html

Kentucky.gov (Office of the Governor). “Gov. Beshear: Death Toll from Eastern Kentucky Floods Rises as Search and Rescue Efforts Continue.” 7-30-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=1430

Lexington-Herald Leader, KY. ”Four young siblings were swept from parents’ grip, among victims of Ky. Flooding relative says.” 7-30-2022. Accessed 7-30-2022 at: https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article263953661.html

Lexington Herald-Leader(Valarie Honeycutt Spears), KY. “Ky. Woman with chest pain dies after ambulance blocked by floodwaters.” 8-1-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.ems1.com/flooding/articles/ky-woman-with-chest-pain-dies-after-ambulance-blocked-by-floodwaters-5AQAt4cFrNmLzJBb/

Louisville Courier Journal (Billy Kobin), KY. “Crews recover 2 bodies from Perry County Creek in Eastern Kentucky as rain resumes.” 8-1-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/crews-recover-2-bodies-perry-220942004.html

Louisville Courier Journal (Caleb Stultz), KY. “Death toll in Eastern Kentucky flooding hits 39 as water, electricity restored to residents.” 8-11-2022. Accessed 8-12-2022 at: https://news.yahoo.com/death-toll-eastern-kentucky-flooding-230751342.html

New York Post. “Bodies of Noble children found after being swept away from parents amid catastrophic Kentucky floods.” 7-29-2022. Accessed 7-30-2022 at: https://nypost.com/2022/07/29/bodies-of-noble-kids-found-after-being-swept-away-by-kentucky-floods/

New York Times (Shawn Hubler, Neelam Bohra, McKenna Oxenden and Ginny Whitehouse). “What We Know About the Victims in the Kentucky Flooding.” 7-31-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/31/us/kentucky-floods-victims.html

People.com. “Ky. Woman Mourns Loss of Both Parents in Historic Flood: ‘They Were the Biggest-Hearted People.’” 8-1-2022 Accessed 8-8-2022 at: https://people.com/human-interest/kentucky-woman-lost-both-her-parents-in-flood/

Times-Tribune (Brad Hall) Corbin, KY. “Beshear updates on eastern Ky. Flooding include $6.7 million donated to Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund…” 8-21-2022. Accessed 8-23-2022 at: https://www.yahoo.com/now/beshear-updates-eastern-ky-flooding-153400168.html

Tribute Archive, Letcher Funeral Home. “Clarence Edward Sturgill, Whitesburg, Kentucky…July 28, 2022. Accessed 8-4-2022 at: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/25498934/clarence-edward-sturgill

WSAZ 3. Huntington WV. “Death toll rises again from Kentucky flooding.” 8-11-2022. Accessed Aug 12, 2022 at: https://www.wsaz.com/2022/08/11/death-toll-rises-again-kentucky-flooding/

WYMT (Cameron Aaron), Hazard KY. “Death toll increases to three in Perry County, all were identified.” 7-30-2022. Accessed 8-2-2022 at: https://www.wymt.com/2022/07/30/death-toll-increases-three-perry-county-all-were-identified/

WYMT Mountain News/Cameron Aaron, Hazard, KY. “Family identifies one of the victims killed by flooding in Clay County.” 7-28-2022. Accessed 8-7-2022 at: https://www.wymt.com/2022/07/29/family-identifies-one-victims-killed-by-flooding-clay-county/

WYMT Mountain News (Keaton Hall), Hazard, KY. “KSP releases names of two Breathitt County women missing due to flood.” 8-7-2022. Accessed 8-8-2022 at: https://www.wymt.com/2022/08/07/ksp-releases-names-two-breathitt-county-women-missing-due-flood/

WYMT.com (Cameron Aaron), Hazard, KY. “One Knott County flood victim identified.” 7-31-2022. Accessed 8-1-2022 at: https://www.wymt.com/2022/08/01/one-knott-county-flood-victim-identified/

WYMT Mountain News/Ethan Sirles, Hazard, KY. “Perry County flooding victims identified.” 8-11-2022. Accessed 8-12-2022 at: https://www.wymt.com/2022/08/11/perry-county-flooding-victims-identified/