The death of a 66-year-old Campbell County man marks the sixth flood-related death in Kentucky since the onset of widespread severe flooding last week, Gov. Andy Beshear said during a news conference Thursday.
Total deaths around the commonwealth include a 9-year-old boy in Franklin County, a 74-year-old woman in Nelson County, a 65-year-old man in Trigg County, a 27-year-old man in McCracken County and a 50-year-old man in Bullitt County.
“Each of these deaths is attributable to floodwater, and so this is another reminder that it is still dangerous out there. Do not drive through water. Do not drive around barricades,” Beshear said.
The Ohio River in Louisville crested near downtown Louisville Wednesday, reaching its highest mark since 1997. But the flooding isn’t over, Beshear warned, with the river projected to crest in Owensboro, Henderson and Paducah over the next several days.
Swift water boat teams from central Kentucky and additional teams from outside the commonwealth are lending a hand to west Kentucky ahead of the peak flooding, Beshear said.
President Donald Trump approved a federal disaster declaration for all 120 Kentucky counties in the wake of the flooding last week, making federal funding and resources available for disaster relief efforts.
Beshear said he plans to submit an application for individual assistance to Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Friday, which would allow individuals to access federal assistance.
The application will likely ask for 10-12 counties to gain eligibility, though officials hope to expand the assistance to more counties later, Beshear said, pointing to the widespread need indicated by the 70 counties that have declared states of emergency.
“The reason we’re doing this is we want to make our best case to get that first round in, and then we will add counties after that,” he said. “Rest assured, there will be more.”
Kentucky was granted eligibility for individual assistance from FEMA during the February flooding that caused 24 deaths. The agency has awarded $32.7 million in individual assistance to families who applied following that weather event, Beshear said.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear confirms 6 flood deaths, gives FEMA update