Death toll from recent Kentucky floods, frigid weather increases again, Beshear says
The death toll from flooding and frigid temperatures across Kentucky earlier this month has jumped to 22 victims, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday morning.
The latest death was a man from Marshall County, who died from hypothermia, Beshear said.
“This has been a painful, difficult natural disaster. There aren’t many natural disasters where we lose 22 people,” Beshear said in a news conference. “After the widespread flooding in 2022 and the tornadoes in 2021, this is one of the most deadly disasters certainly since I’ve been governor.”
Beshear announced six new deaths Friday and Saturday. The 22 deaths were reported in Caldwell, Clay, Floyd, Hardin, Hart, Jefferson, Livingston, Logan, Morgan, Nelson, Ohio, Pike, Scott, Washington and Warren counties.
Anyone interested in supporting recovery efforts is encouraged to donate to the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund. Beshear said the fund has raised $300,689 from 3,100 donors.
The money raised from the fund will first be used to cover funeral expenses before helping in other recovery efforts.
“Every single penny goes to those that have been harmed or those that have been lost through this flooding and the severe weather around it,” Beshear said. “Not one cent will be used for administrative fees, with the exception of credit card processing that can occur if that’s how you give online.”
Every one of Kentucky’s 120 counties reported flooding after 3-to-8 inches of rain fell on the state beginning the night of Feb. 14, prompting more than 1,000 emergency rescues in the first 24 hours.
750 homes damaged by flood
The Kentucky Emergency Management Operation Center has received 460 requests pertaining to storm recovery efforts. Beshear said. Of those, 279 have been completed, and the requests include damage assessment teams, dehumidifiers, mold cleaning solution, personal hygiene kits, spray bottles and water.
Recent requests have featured clean-up tools, garbage bags and propane adapter hoses. Beshear said the state has already sent 65 trucks of water, five trucks of “ready-to-eat” meals and one truck of blankets to the impacted communities.
About 53% of the requests have come from Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Martin, Perry and Pike counties.
“That shows you, even with half of the requests coming from those counties, how widespread that this natural disaster was,” Beshear said. “Not hitting just one region, hitting all of Kentucky, even though it hit some parts harder than others.”
The application for FEMA individual assistance is still pending. Beshear surveyed the damage and predicted the application should be easily approved.
“This federal assistance is essential to those that have been harmed by this flood, and we know those numbers are in the hundreds,” Beshear said.
The Red Cross is doing its own damage assessment of the impacted communities. That survey is about 65% of the way completed and has determined 749 homes were damaged, including 25 that were significantly damaged or destroyed.
The Red Cross also has provided 5,600 items to 2,500 households in need, according to Beshear.
“Recovery in Kentucky will take time,” the governor said. “The Red Cross has promised to be there every step of the way.”
IRE offers relief to storm victims
People in Kentucky affected by the recent severe weather have been granted an extension to file their taxes, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
The deadline to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments is now Nov. 3, 2025. The IRS said the new deadline also applies to 2024 contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts for eligible taxpayers.
Affected businesses also have until Nov. 3 to file:
Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on April 30, July 31 and Sept. 30, 2025.
Calendar-year partnership and S corporation returns normally due on March 17, 2025.
Calendar-year corporation and fiduciary returns and payments normally due on April 15, 2025.
Calendar-year tax-exempt organization returns normally due on May 15, 2025.
The IRS automatically issued the relief for taxpayers in the covered disaster area. Taxpayers located outside the covered disaster area but believe they are entitled to relief should call 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.
People who receive a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period are encouraged to call the number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.
This story was originally published February 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM.
