Historic torrential rains and flooding have led to 25 deaths in rural Kentucky as water washes away homes from their foundations in the Appalachian region. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called the situation a state of emergency, has asked for financial resources and asked the National Guard to assist with rescue operations.
“We are currently experiencing one of the worst and most devastating flooding events in Kentucky’s history,” Beshear said per a report in CBN News. Other reports include up to 12 feet of water in some towns.
As the National Weather Service calls for more rain in the forecast, one Christian ministry is bringing relief, aid, basic needs, and more to the least, lost and forgotten.
“These communities really need it,” explained Sean Malone, Director of Crisis Response International based in Blue Ridge, VA.
Malone explained that most of the flooding and people hurting are in remote, lower-income areas, small country towns, and away from help and resources with a lot of elderly. Towns like Wayland, Langley, Allen, Topmost, Hollybush, and Left Beaver.
“We’re going to lean into this, but flooding is tough, you can’t get in right away, but these communities that we are talking about, the waters have receded and the need is great.”
Responders are invited to fly into the ministry’s base camp in Virginia and make the 4-hour drive and bring resources with them including tools, mobile kitchen supplies, and more.
While most relief organizations go to the bigger cities and that leaves the poor and rural communities to get relief last, CRI is going to help anywhere it’s needed.
“We’re going to go to the forgotten, the underserved, we’re going to bring the kingdom of God, the love of Jesus, we’re going to see people touched with God’s power.”
The ministry is scheduled to load trailers Sunday morning and roll out with teams to help aid homeowners with muck-outs, prayer, food, and other needs. CRI has established contacts on the ground to organize a basecamp for its network of thousands of trained volunteer responders to answer the call to go.
As the death toll continues to rise, state officials are calling on people everywhere to pray.
“Asking everybody to pray,” Governor Beshear said according to CBN. “There’s a lot of people out there who need help, who are really scared right now. And we’re doing the very best we can to reach each and every one of them.”
Bob Taylor, city mayor in Elkhorn, KY also asked for prayer. “I ask that people when they remember to pray tonight, be with the people in your prayers that lost what they had – and they really need help from our state with this.”
Thanks to CRI, help is on the way.
