This is an initial report of serious sporadic flooding in 12 Eastern Kentucky counties over the past few days. Major damage is in Harlan and Bell Counties along the Cumberland River, which is 11ft above flood stage. Other swollen tributaries are causing mudslides and road washouts.

Below is a situation report from the Red Cross Disaster Services unit in Louisville as of 19 March:
>
> *Over 388 homes have been affected. It is estimated that over 250 of
> these have either been destroyed or have been washed away. Some more are
> surrounded by water and if the rain continues are in jeopardy.
>
> *Major RELIEF phase agencies such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army,
> UMCOR, and local relief agencies are already working and two services centers
> have been established in Harlan and Middlesboro. Clean-up units and mental
> health and disaster health services are also available.

KIDRP's RESPONSE:
I am in touch daily with disaster service units in the region and will update as information becomes available. I will be traveling to the area on Thursday and Friday of next week to gather information and
to access possibilities for local committee(s) to do recovery work. KIDRP will continue to work with other agencies to help the people who have lost their homes and whose lives have been disordered.

THIS IS A MAJOR DISASTER! Initial estimates indicate that it is even more serious than the one last Fall in the Prestonsburg area. A local committee (EK-CORE) is still in operation there, but new committees must be organized for this present catastrophe. When I return from my trip next week I will
be in touch with the KIDRP committee and Council judicatories to determine KIDRP's role in the recovery process. From all reports, it seems likely that this will be a federally declared disaster, but since there are areas that have never before been flooded, many families will need massive
assistance.

I will continue to assess damage and will keep you abreast of the situation. One serious handicap is the difficulty of accessing remote areas because of road washouts.

Please remember the people who have lost their homes in your prayers. Continuing rain is a big concern. As of this date, there have been no fatalities. There have been sporadic reports of missing persons, but this has not been confirmed.

For more information about how you can help, please contact the program coordinator, John Kays at 859-269-7715 or email jwk@kycouncilofchurches.org.

MAY SITUATION REPORT
TORNADOS AND WINDSTORM - APRIL 2002

Here are some "fast facts" about the dangerous windstorms and possible tornado activity in Western Kentucky on Sunday, April 28, 2002:

There were 10 counties affected: Webster, Breckinridge, Hardin, Meade, Edmonson, Lincoln, Green, Taylor, McLean, and Grayson.

Altogether, over 400 dwellings in these counties were either destroyed or had major or minor damage. The worst hit counties were Webster and Breckenridge (Webster: 300; Breckinridge: 80). Many of these dwellings were mobile homes.

Injuries: 2 people are hospitalized, both in serious condition. 4 people were treated and released.

Deaths: 1 confirmed and 1 person is missing. The death was in Irvington, in Breckenridge County.

Providence, in Webster County, appears to be the hardest hit community. There is a service shelter set up at the Christian Worship Center in Providence (Highway 41A). There is presently no information about centers in other communities.

Evaluation: The Governor has declared a state emergency, but it is too early to determine if there will be a Presidential declaration that will bring in financial assistance in the way of grants and loans. THIS IS INDEED A MAJOR DISASTER! There are more homes affected than was originally suspected and the fatality adds heavy weight to the seriousness of the situation. Unfortunately, we are still in the presence of two other disasters in the state, both in Eastern Kentucky. The Harlan Recovery committee is being organized this week and plans for extensive building and repair are underway.

KIDRP is keeping a close watch on the situation in Western Kentucky and I will be visiting the major sites in the next few days. With what looks like a very busy year for disasters, the need for funds from our churches will be great. I will be sending additional information as it becomes available.

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> DISASTER SITUATION REPORT - FROM JOHN KAYS, KIDRP
>
> This is an initial report of serious sporadic flooding in 12 Eastern
Kentucky
> counties over the past few days. Major damage is in Harlan and Bell
Counties
> along the Cumberland River, which is 11ft above flood stage. Other
swollen
> tributaries are causing mudslides and road washouts.
>
> Below is a situation report from the Red Cross Disaster Services unit in
> Louisville as of 19 March:
>
> *Over 388 homes have been affected. It is estimated that over 250 of
> these have either been destroyed or have been washed away. Some more are
> surrounded by water and if the rain continues are in jeopardy.
>
> *Major RELIEF phase agencies such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army,
> UMCOR, and local relief agencies are already working and two services
centers
> have been established in Harlan and Middlesboro. Clean-up units and
mental
> health and disaster health services are also available.
>
> KIDRP's RESPONSE: I am in touch daily with disaster service units in the
> region and will update as information becomes available. I will be
traveling
> to the area on Thursday and Friday of next week to gather information and
to
> access possibilities for local committee(s) to do recovery work. KIDRP
will
> continue to work with other agencies to help the people who have lost
their
> homes and whose lives have been disordered.
>
> THIS IS A MAJOR DISASTER! Initial estimates indicate that it is even more
> serious than the one last Fall in the Prestonsburg area. A local
committee
> (EK-CORE) is still in operation there, but new committees must be
organized
> for this present catastrophe. When I return from my trip next week I will
be
> in touch with the KIDRP committee and Council judicatories to determine
> KIDRP's role in the recovery process. From all reports, it seems likely
that
> this will be a federally declared disaster, but since there are areas that
> have never before been flooded, many families will need massive
assistance.
> I will continue to assess damage and will keep you abreast of the
situation.
> One serious handicap is the difficulty of accessing remote areas because
of
> road washouts.
>
> Please remember the people who have lost their homes in your prayers.
> Continuing rain is a big concern. As of this date, there have been no
> fatalities. There have been sporadic reports of missing persons, but this
> has not been confirmed.