Hopkins County Judge-Executive Jack Whitfield has already experienced one tragedy in the last eight months — having to help shepherd Dawson Springs following the December 10 and 11 west Kentucky tornadoes.
He now possesses unfortunate, but necessary, knowledge about lifesaving and disaster relief.
And it’s knowledge he took with him, when he recently paid visit to Knott County and its leaders — following last week’s torrential rains and deadly flooding.
During Monday’s Pennyrile Area Development District monthly convening, Whitfield recounted his harrowing journey to the mountains — calling it “eerily familiar,” despite it being two different disasters.
As of Monday, the death toll still stands at 17 for Knott County alone, with four of those being young siblings.
Whitfield said that situation alone was beyond difficult.
Along with the destruction of homes and businesses, so, too, went the infrastructure. Whitfield said roughly 90 bridges were either “washed out” or “beyond repair” in Breathitt County, which will push the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to its limits in the area.
Whitfield took some supplies out there on his visit, but he noted that the main reason he wanted to go was to help with the organization side of things — particularly because he knows how chaotic these unspeakable events can be.
Whitfield said Knott County’s judge-executive, Jeff Dobson, also had to carry out his child in chest-deep water — and needed personal and professional assistance in this traumatic time.
For those in west Kentucky, or anywhere, looking to physically assist with repairs, Whitfield said to wait a couple of weeks because relief and its organization can be “overwhelming.”
Whitfield said he hopes to see the continued support for eastern Kentucky much like western Kentucky has had since the tornadoes. He added that volunteers are still pouring into Dawson Springs even now, eight months later, to help with rebuilding and restocking efforts.
In talking with one man in Knott County, Whitfield said that flood insurance would’ve cost this resident $15,000 a year for his house — and that most people living in a single-wide trailer can’t pay $15,000 a year for that.
Whitfield said he’s fussed in the past about how much federal support eastern Kentucky typically receives on an annual basis — especially as one of the nation’s poorest regions.
But now, he said, is not the time for such frustration. He said the people of eastern Kentucky need all the help they can get from west Kentucky and anyone in the country.
Moving forward, Whitfield said it will be important to make single points of contact for community needs — which will almost certainly amount to building and cleaning supplies, clean water and foodstuffs.
Like many in the last week, Whitfield strongly urged that used and new clothing isn’t needed at this time, as storage units have already been filled in these first donations.