Rescue, mutual aid efforts continue into second day as Kentucky flooding increases

KENTUCKY (FOX 56) — Friday’s pre-positioned SWIFT water rescue teams across southern and eastern Kentucky were deployed on Saturday, conducting over 1,000 operations. On Sunday, the rising Kentucky River kept rescue teams in heavy demand statewide.

Answering the calls for mutual aid, emergency crews around the Commonwealth have joined rescue efforts on Sunday and other needs as the statewide emergency declaration continues.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, crews with the Lexington Fire Department (LFD) worked in Pike County, helping residents of a mobile home who were trapped. Other LFD teams were sent to Jackson, Hazard, and London.

On Sunday, the Scott County Fire Department wrote on social media that members had been deployed in London and were dispersed across the state to help with rescues in Hazard, Pikeville, and Belfry.

“These members have been working alongside the Versailles Fire Department, Winchester Fire Department, and Kentucky EMA,” SCFD officials wrote on Facebook. “Simultaneously, crews back at home were also up late performing several water rescues throughout Scott County. We could not be more proud of our members and their commitment to serving others, inside or outside their county, and continuously answering the call for help.”

At the north fork of the Kentucky River, the Jackson Fire Department worked with the Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team (WCSART), working long hours on Sunday and carrying out multiple rescues in the area.

“Missions have included rescuing residents along with their pets who were trapped in their homes, people who were stranded in their vehicles, and assisting residents across flood waters to reach medical care,” rescue team members said. “We’re always glad to work alongside our partners at Jackson Fire Department to help our neighbors in need.”

WCSART officials also gave a shout-out to the Taco Bell in Jackson, saying it helped fuel Sunday’s emergency operations.

By Sunday morning, many Floyd County roads were completely blocked and mostly submerged in water, including Route 1428 from Martin to Prestonsburg.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook that around 5 p.m. on Sunday, emergency personnel were dispatched to help when a pickup truck ended up in a river off Route 321 near Adams Auto Parts and Highlands Regional Hospital.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, over 320 roads in Kentucky are blocked due to weather hazards. State leaders and Kentucky Emergency Management officials repeatedly asked the public on Sunday to avoid travel so that statewide emergency personnel can safely move vehicles and crews where help is needed the most.