Watch: First-person video shows rescuers pulling KY residents from floods with helicopters
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Flooding in Eastern Kentucky
“Catastrophic” flash flooding hit parts of Eastern Kentucky July 28, 2022.
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Twenty minutes of compiled video footage shows what rescue operations have been like from from the perspective of the Kentucky National Guard after catastrophic flooding in Eastern Kentucky.
The National Guard released the video Monday showing helicopter rescues and efforts to get victims to safety in Eastern Kentucky following last week’s floods.
The video shows footage from inside the helicopter of the National Guard hoisting people from trees, rooftops and other non-stable locations into the helicopter. Some victims would be attached to a national guardsmen while others were hoisted up individually and pulled into the helicopter dozens of feet in the air.
The video showed National Guard members using wires and baskets to lift people into the helicopter. The helicopter units also helped facilitate trips to hospitals and helped others get to safer locations.
Some victims were attached to National Guard members while others were hoisted up individually and pulled into the helicopter dozens of feet in the air.
The video also shows unique vantage points of the devastating floods.
“I am so proud of them,” Gov. Andy Beshear said to the National Guard in a tweet Monday. He also thanked Kentucky State Police and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for their help in the search, rescue and recovery efforts.
“This isn’t just Kentuckians helping Kentuckians – they are saving lives.”
Beshear said Tuesday morning that more than 1,300 rescues had been carried out.
“One person was rescued yesterday by (the Kentucky Department of) Fish and Wildlife, so this is still an active situation where some people are still cut off,” Beshear said.
The historic flooding began last week and affected many rural communities in Breathitt, Perry, Knott, Floyd, Clay and Letcher counties, among others. The latest death count stood at 37, according to Beshear.
Many agencies responded to search and rescue operations, including the Kentucky National Guard, Tennessee National Guard, West Virginia National Guard, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife, Kentucky State Police and many local fire departments.
This story was originally published August 2, 2022 at 8:33 AM.
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