Full recovery plan could be in place later this week
Local officials are in the early phases of getting a full recovery plan in place for those who suffered losses from flooding still covering thousands of acres of land that is keeping many from returning to their homes.
Henderson County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider said because waters are still high, many people haven’t been able to get back into their homes to document losses.
It’s still early for a full recovery plan to be in place, he said, adding that should come together by the end of the week.
“We’re still in response mode,” he said.
He did say that the recovery plans are coming together, which would include finding a location where people can take articles ruined from the flooding. It also includes organizing a disaster response center in which those affected can go table to table to work with various assistance agencies, Schneider said.
All this is being headed up by the Henderson County Office of Emergency Management, which according to its Facebook page hosted FEMA representatives Sunday and Monday while showing the federal agency places in the county affected by flooding.
Schneider pointed people to a database in which losses and damage can be reported—if they can get into their homes. Go to www.tinyurl.com/kyflood2025 to report losses. Those affected can also report losses at https://www.hendersoncountyky.gov/531/Self-Reporting.
According to a post on the Henderson County Emergency Management page, the initial information submitted to the above sites goes to Kentucky Emergency Management. The information compiled must meet the threshold for an emergency declaration in the county. “We should get a declaration any day,” according to the Henderson County Emergency management Facebook page.
On Sunday afternoon, at the intersection of U.S. 60 and Peters Road, just over the bridge coming from Henderson, the Henderson City-County Rescue Squad and Henderson County Emergency Management Agency kept watch at a command center that had been set up on April 7.
Rescue Squad Chief Bryan Coghill said on Sunday that there have been 10-12 evacuations of residents in the Reed and Beals area.
There have been more welfare checks after family members haven’t been able to get a hold of loved ones and requested first responders to boat out to a residence to check.
Most people who decided to wait out the waters around their houses have power and water, Coghill said. Some—when responders arrive—have asked for groceries, and if that’s the case, responders have evacuated them, the chief said.
Of the 900-1,000 Reed residents, Coghill estimated that 80% have evacuated, many of those staying in hotels until the water recedes.
Coghill said many of those who have stayed remember looting that occurred during the 1997 flood and want to protect their possessions. Others, he said, are older folks and simply don’t want to leave their homes.
He said there’s been suspicion of people in areas at night but not been outright evidence of looting this time around. Kentucky State Police and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office have been patrolling the area in search of could-be looters, Coghill said, adding that the Spottsville Bridge has been closed with state Transportation Cabinet employees watching at the barricade.
About 12-15 rescue squad responders have been at the commend center from 7 a.m. to about dusk each day since April 8, Coghill said. He said volunteer firefighters from the Corydon, Robards and Reed departments have been assisting at the command center.
U.S. 60 in Henderson County is closed from right at the commend center to the county line, said Reed Fire Department Chief Jonathan Eblen.
Those who have been evacuated have been “thankful,” Eblen said.
Schneider said the devastation is made worse for many who can’t afford expensive flood insurance because their homes are in a flood zone.
On Monday, state Rep. J.T. Payne, a native of Reed, posted on Facebook a letter from him and state Sen. Robby Mills to Gov. Andy Beshear urging the governor to quickly release funding to assist the area’s recovery. “As you may know, multiple families have lost their homes, and many others are facing significant damage to property and essential infrastructure.”
“…we urge your administration to ensure that this funding is quickly and equitably deployed to assist those in Henderson County who are in urgent need,” said the letter.