Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a declaration of emergency in Martin County, and rescue teams were working to locate the missing worker.
This story was updated on Nov. 2, 2023, with a quote from a Martin County official.
One man is dead and another man is missing after a coal tipple collapsed Tuesday night in Martin County, Kentucky, on the border with West Virginia.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the worker’s death on social media on Wednesday morning. Beshear signed a declaration of emergency in Martin County, and rescue teams were working to locate the missing worker.
“Please pray for the family and loved ones of this individual,” Beshear said on social media of the worker who died.
The workers became trapped under tons of steel and concrete.
Local officials said the prep plant had been idle and the workers were salvaging it.
State officials said rescue workers and emergency responders were being deployed from Louisville, Lexington, Northern Kentucky and the Kentucky National Guard.
Lon Lafferty, the county executive, said he was still hoping to have good news to share on Thursday.
“It remains a rescue operation as of this morning, at this time, and we pray that those efforts will be successful.”
The names of the workers have not been released. It isn’t clear what caused the collapse of the structure.
More rain is expected across the region this week, while many communities in central Appalachia are still recovering from flash floods last week.
Residents of eastern Kentucky are bracing once again for more storms just as they begin to clean up from deadly floods that killed at least 35 people and left hundreds missing.
As much as four inches of rain fell Sunday, and the National Weather Service expects there to be isolated thunderstorms and damaging winds going into Monday evening.
“There is severe storm potential today and all of the impacted areas,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said. “You think about how saturated the grid ground has been. It could knock over poles, it could knock over trees.”
National Weather Service
Beshear noted the progress made in restoring phone service, and that search and rescue teams now have access to areas that were previously unreachable.
According to Beshear during an update Monday morning, 14 emergency shelters assisted 483 residents, with 150 other residents being housed in state parks.
Residents of Breathitt, Clay, Knott, Letcher and Perry Counties who were affected by the storms starting in July can apply for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
They can go online to https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, or call 1-800-621-FEMA or 1-800-621-3362. Beshear hopes to expand the assistance to residents in all the flooded counties.
A high pressure system could bring some hot weather on Wednesday, which could help dry portions of the region.
Search and rescue crews are working around the clock to locate missing people. Communities in eastern Kentucky are being aided by neighboring state governments and FEMA.
As rain dissipates in central Appalachia, search and rescue crews are working around the clock to locate missing people. Communities in eastern Kentucky are being aided by neighboring state governments.
According to state and federal officials, at least 16 people have died amid historic floods in eastern Kentucky, with many more still missing. The North Fork of the Kentucky River crested 6 feet above previous records.
“We don’t have a reliable number of people unaccounted for,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a news conference Friday morning. “It’s for a couple of reasons. Number one, communication is still very difficult. We’re trying to amplify cell service. We hope we’re going to get a big step made today in doing that, but it’s going to be really challenging in this area.”
President Joe Biden ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with recovery in Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Knott, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Wolfe counties.
“What we’ll be working on next is an application and a request on the individual assistance side,” Beshear said.
Search and rescue crews are still unable to reach some of the flooded areas. Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, Adj. Gen. of the West Virginia National Guard, said that he’s coordinating with the Kentucky and Tennessee National Guards to provide helicopter rescues to these locations.
“There are just locations they can’t get to, and with aviation and our hoist capabilities, we can get in and lower the hoist, get folks on that, and get them up out of that area,” Crane said.
Edwin Wriston
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U.S. Army National Guard
Crew members from the West Virginia National Guard’s Company C., 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, located in Williamstown, W.Va., prepare to deploy to South Carolina in support of Hurricane Dorian response and recovery operations Sept. 4, 2019. Eight Soldiers from the aeromedical evacuation crew will be on standby for a week to provide assistance as needed.
Officials are encouraging people to wait for the water to recede, and to avoid flooded areas and hazards such as downed power lines and mudslides.
“You need to be extra cautious when you’re traveling,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said. “Make sure that you’re listening to your local officials in what they asked you to do, because we want to make sure that we keep you safe. We want to be able to use our resources to help those that are in need.”
Flooding can undercut roads and wash away bridges. According to Crane, some highways have even lost part of their support structures from flood damage.
West Virginia National Guard
Photo depicting flood damage over Jackson, Kentucky from a West Virginia National Guard UH-60M Blackhawk. Fourteen Soldiers from the WVNG’s Company C, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion (MEDEVAC) and Company B, 1-224th Security and Support Aviation Battalion located in Williamstown, West Virginia, flew more than 25 hours July 28, 2022, rescuing over a dozen people and three pets from southeastern Kentucky following catastrophic flash flooding.
While storms and rain showers are dissipating, some waterways in Kentucky haven’t yet reached their crest. With saturated soil and localized downpours, flash floods continue to be a hazard throughout central Appalachia.
A flood watch issued by the National Weather Service will remain in effect till 10 p.m. Friday.
A State of Emergency has been declared for counties in southern West Virginia. A flood watch will remain in effect through Friday.
After a week filled with floods and severe thunderstorms, Gov. Jim Justice today declared a State of Emergency for Fayette, Greenbrier, Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties.
As part of the declaration, the West Virginia Emergency Management Division is mobilizing resources and personnel for emergency services.
The West Virginia Division of Highways reports that the flooding has mostly downed trees, damaged gravel roads, and caused embankment failures along the state’s roadways.
West Virginia Division of Highways
Tree blocking road
Although rain showers have dissipated, the National Weather Service anticipates 1.5 to 2 inches of rain Friday, with storms capable of producing more heavy rain. Tuesday’s Flood Watch will remain in effect through Friday evening.
Showers and isolated storms are moving toward the northern counties of West Virginia. Dry weather is expected Saturday, but on Sunday another cold front will bring showers and storms into next week.
Neighboring counties in Eastern Kentucky have suffered catastrophic flood damage where in Perry County alone, more than 30,000 residents are without power. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says at least three people have died.
Gov. Justice also announced the deployment of members of the West Virginia National Guard to support the Kentucky National Guard. Two UH-72 Lakota aircraft and UH-60M Blackhawks, along with 14 soldiers will assist in the efforts.
The State of Emergency will remain in effect for 30 days.
