With damaged schools and at least 17 deaths, Knott County rebuilds after 'whirlwind' week

HINDMAN, Ky. — Five days after widespread flooding ripped through Eastern Kentucky, community members in the rural town of Hindman were still pulling debris from damaged buildings.

A makeshift dump had been established in the Knott County town along the shoulder of the Hindman Bypass and Ogden Branch Road. Just a mile up the road from the town's center, obstructions on the route had shut it down to one lane, slowing traffic and recovery efforts.

Progress has been made this week, in the aftermath of the historic flooding. But after more than seven inches of rain fell within 24 hours in the region – damaging countless homes and businesses along with three local schools – the community has an unfathomable amount of work ahead.

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Knott County is believed to have lost more people to the flooding than anywhere in the state, with four children among at least 17 of their community members who have been killed. Across the state, 37 people were confirmed to have died as of Tuesday – many more were still unaccounted for as well, with Gov. Andy Beshear repeatedly indicating that number is likely to rise.

"We pray that we don’t have too many more, but we are going to be searching for a while given some of them have been found miles away from where they were swept away," Beshear said Tuesday in a press conference at the Floyd County Community Center.

The center has been converted into a shelter, and as Beshear spoke, he pointed to about 30 cots on the other side of the room. They represent people who "lost everything, he said, including several children.

Rainfall totals observed between July 26 and July 29 across Eastern Kentucky were more than 600% over normal, according to the National Weather Service in Jackson.

"It was swift, it was quick, and it was devastating," Regina Terry, whose husband is the director of Hindman Funeral Services, said of the flood. As the family of one victim made arrangements in the funeral home's conference room, she shook her head as she considered how her community has suffered.

"It's been very hectic," she said. "It's very hard to call them and tell them we have their family member and help them decide how to have a funeral."

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Eight of Knott County's victims will have their services at the home, she said – though the timetable of when those could take place isn't quite clear. Some of the cemeteries in the area are just too muddy, she said, and others aren't accessible.

Many of them lost their homes and possessions. Still, "getting closure for the family is our main goal," Terry said. No one will be turned away because they can't pay, her husband Marty Terry added.

"I hope people can talk and lean on one another," Regina Terry said. Her goal, she said, is to give a hug, a kind word and a pat on the back and say, 'I’m here for you'.

"People need that right now," she said.

Back downtown, 47-year-old Otis Jent stood outside the Hindman First Baptist Church as volunteers handed out cleaning supplies. He'd driven down from the home he and his sister share between Mousie and Garrett. In the flooding, he said, they'd lost everything but the house.

It wasn't the first round of flooding last week that damaged many homes in his area, he said. Instead, an influx of rain Monday had been the catalyst. Power at his home had been restored, he said, but it could take up to a month for water to be turned back on.

Still, Jent looked for the silver lining amid a devastating week.

"I'm just glad everyone's all right, and we've still got the house," he said, with a new hose, broom and mop in hand. "I appreciate what everyone's doing. It'll take a while, but we'll get back, if not for that man up above."

Volunteers and members of Hindman First Baptist Assoc. Pastor Mike Caudill's congregation showed up relentlessly to serve their community in the wake of the flooding, he said.

The church had given out over 7,000 meals since Friday, he said, with members of the volunteer fire department handling the grill for about two days. That department lost its reserve rig, fire-fighting equipment and dealt with about three feet of water in their station, after manning search and rescues until the National Guard arrived.

"I know several (families) who lost everything – all that was left was the foundation," Caudill said. He's already presided over one funeral and could have another three to take part in before this week ends. The visitations are being cut short so the community can get through them all, he explained.

One of the four children confirmed to have been killed – all of whom were siblings – had been set to go into the second grade in the Knott County school district.

There's no way the school year will start before Labor Day, according to Brent Hall, the district's director of people personnel. Many staff members lost their homes, and three of local schools were damaged, with Hindman Elementary taking the worst of it. Plus, the county's damaged infrastructure will make getting some students to school another challenge, Hall explained.

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Schools in nearby Perry and Letcher counties suffered damage, too, and Hall said his staff has been hard at work in the past week.

"It's been a whirlwind, to be honest," Hall said.

They've shown fervor in their recovery efforts. Many schools have been converted into hubs where supplies can be picked up, with access to hot food and tetanus vaccinations. None of them were set to return to work until next week.

Principals have also been working to figure out how many of their students have been displaced, but the region faces a long road ahead. Of the district's about 2,100 students, according to the Kentucky Department of Education, 74% are considered economically disadvantaged.

"I thought this year we were on track to have our first normal year in several years, and it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen because of the flood," Hall said. "It's frustrating, disappointing."

Reach reporter Krista Johnson at @kjohnson3@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky flooding: Knott County deals with 17 deaths, damaged schools