As their families lost homes in flood, Ky. 4-year-olds ‘never left each other’

Best friends at West Whitesburg Elementary preschool, Tressie Whisenant and Ada Miller, both 4, never left each other’s sides as Ada’s home was destroyed by flooding this week in the Upper Bottom section of Whitesburg, Tressie’s mother said.

“Both understood and saw the fear in everyone’s eyes, but I am not sure if their little minds could comprehend the devastation that was occurring right in front of them,” said Katrina Shepherd-Whisenant.

The girls, who live in Upper Bottom, watched from above the devastation as their neighbors and friends were being rescued from the flood, she said.

Tressie’s grandmother’s and aunt’s house was destroyed also.

“They never left each other’s side as the day unfolded and the tragedy played out before them,” Shepherd-Whisenant said.

“Why did God let it rain so much?,” Tressie asked her mother at one point. “Is he crying?”

As the cleanup begins, Shepherd-Whisenant, a special education teacher at West Whitesburg Elementary, has opened her garage for people to drop off supplies.

She’s asking anyone coming to the area to “bring your work hands to help everyone.”

Andrea Hatton, a school nurse at Pikeville Elementary, said she went to Upper Bottom, where flooding was devastating, to help.

“These people in Whitesburg need bodies,” she said. “If you, your family, your sports teams, and anyone can help just bring yourselves. ...these people just need help. Carrying. Sweeping. Anything.”

This story was originally published July 31, 2022 at 12:16 PM.