vehicles and rivers and creeks rose out of their banks.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the latest death toll Monday morning in addition to the latest recovery efforts."We can now confirm that we have lost 30 Kentuckians to this flooding," Beshear said in a news conference. "The breakdown is seven in Breathitt, two in Clay, 16 in Knott, two in Letcher and three in Perry."He expects the death toll number to continue to rise as "hundreds" remain unaccounted for in the state.Damage from flooding in Hindman, Kentucky. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Valdes/FOX Weather) The governor said there have been 660 air rescues, with as many as 30 helicopters in the air.
Hundreds of boat rescues were also conducted in the Bluegrass State.Beshear mentioned Sunday that they have "hundreds of millions of dollars" in damage due to the flooding.Kentucky Power said crews are working around the clock to restore power to more than 23,000 customers who lost power at the height of last Thursday's storm.
Beshear said 12,492 people were still without electricity as of Monday morning.The weather could impact recovery efforts this week as forecasters say there is severe storm potential Monday in many of the flood-ravaged areas in Kentucky, and that will be followed by a dangerous heat wave."The most risk is on the northernmost part of the impacted area where it is very unstable," Beshear said in a news conference Monday morning.