Two women still unaccounted more than one week after Kentucky floods, authorities say

Search and rescue workers out in Eastern Kentucky are looking for two women still unaccounted for following flooding on July 28, Breathitt County Coroner Hargis Epperson said.

Kentucky State Police on Sunday provided a description Nancy Cundiff and Vanessa Baker, both of Breathitt County. They were still missing as of Monday morning.

Baker, a 60-year-old woman from the Lost Creek Community, is described as white, 5’7” tall, weighing approximately 215 lbs. and having dark-colored hair. Her last known location was at her residence in the area of Lower River Caney Road, Kentucky State Police said.

Cundiff, a 29-year-old woman from the Lost Creek Community, is described as white, 5’1” tall, weighing approximately 280 lbs. and having dark-colored hair. Her last known location was at her residence in the area of Lower River Caney Road.

State police asked for anyone with any information about the possible whereabouts of Baker or Cundiff to contact Post 13 Hazard at (606) 435-6069.

Cundiff’s adoptive mother died in the flood. Ruby Cundiff’s graveside services were being held in Breathitt County Thursday afternoon.

In the case of the Cundiffs, who lived at Clayhole, said Epperson, “The water overcame them in the house so quickly they just couldn’t react and it swept both of them away, house and all.”

An obituary for Cundiff, 69, a homemaker, said she was survived by her husband Larry Cundiff and three daughters including Nancy Cundiff.

Baker’s family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Matthew Gayheart has said the two were the only people police think are missing.

“We’ve searched all the areas and we are going back to search them again,” Gayheart said.

Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said in a news release Thursday that the number of those unaccounted for is fluid and reflects reports made only to Kentucky State Police.

Beshear had not released any changes to the total death toll from the floods of 37 by Monday morning.

This story was originally published August 4, 2022 at 2:16 PM.