UPDATE 7/24/11
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) - One year after flash flooding in eastern Kentucky filled homes with water and even swept some away, some victims say their lives are still in disarray.

The flooding along Harless and Raccoon creeks in Pike County surprised residents on July 17, 2010. For some, new mobile homes point to progress since the flooding.

But flood-damaged homes continue to be demolished along Harless Creek, where hillside homes with badly damaged foundations and gaping holes still sit. And at Raccoon Creek, empty property tracts sit where there used to be homes.

Residents say recalling the horrors of that day are still difficult.

UPDATE 11/27/10
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Pike County taxpayers may have to pay more than $135,000 stemming from flood recovery projects that were performed with no promise of federal funding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service was one of the first agencies responding after flood waters swept through eastern Kentucky in July. They were examining areas to see if the Emergency Watershed Program could fund restructuring of the county's creeks.

But Jack Kuhn, with the Kentucky office of NRCS, told the Associated Press Pike County's District 1 Magistrate Jeff Anderson refused to let them work in his district and that the work was done by contractors without the agency's involvment.

Anderson this week denied those claims, but the AP reported that the county is waiting to see whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay for the work or county taxpayers are responsible.

Pike County officials tell WSAZ.com that approximately 25,000 customers still remain on a boil water advisory and only 75 customers remain without water service at this time.

Water has been restored from Harless Creek to the mouth of Frankie Fork areas.

Also, the Tide "Loads of Hope" truck will begin washing loads of laundry for individuals who were affected by the flooding beginning at noon Tuesday.

That service will remain in town until Monday, Aug. 2. The Loads of Hope truck is located in the Food City parking lot on South Mayo Trail. It is open until 6 p.m. each day.

Gov. Steve Beshear said in a news release late Friday that he appreciated the swiftness of the response from the White House. Beshear had sent the request Wednesday.

Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said residents and business owners who sustained losses in Pike County can begin applying for assistance Saturday by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT.

FEMA officials said additional counties may be designated for assistance once surveys are completed.

"Some people have no compassion at all," says Julie Smith, who lives along Raccoon Creek. "They want to take what little you got left, which ain't much."

Pike County Judge-Executive Wayne T. Rutherford signed an order on Wednesday, July 21, imposing a curfew in designated areas of the county to maintain peace, order and prevent looting in disaster-stricken areas.

Pike County Sheriff Charles Keesee says, "That gives us an opportunity to stop these people, check them out, and see what they're doing there ... They could be charged with criminal trespass."

The curfew impacts Raccoon Creek (State Road 1441) and all county roads in the watershed of Raccoon Creek as follows:

• Harless Creek (County Road 5072)
  
• Winns Branch (County Road 1520)
  
• Biggs Branch (County Road 5013)
  
• Jimmies Creek (County Road 5039)

The curfew is of little comfort for John Buchannon.

"Everything that people have that they can't chain down they're taking," Buchannon says.

Pike County officials tell WSAZ.com the Tide "Loads of Hope" truck will not arrive in Pike County until Sunday and may not begin operation until Tuesday.

The mobile laundromat is capable of cleaning 300 loads of laundry every day and will be available to the flood victims for free.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

The Tide "Loads of Hope" program provides relief by means of a mobile laundromat.

Friday , one truck and a fleet of vans housing more than 32 washers and dryers will be set up at the mouth of Raccoon Creek in Pike County, according to county officials.

Workers will wash, dry and fold the clothes for these families for free.

The mobile laundromat is capable of cleaning over 300 loads of laundry every day.

Judge Executive Wayne Rutherford said in a statement Thursday that the damage totals would make Pike County eligible for federal disaster assistance.

Officials there worried about looting imposed a curfew in the parts of central Pike County that were hit by harsh storms on Saturday. The 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew was started after Pike Sheriff Charles Keesee reported several instances of theft and looting in the Raccoon Creek area.

Gov. Steve Beshear planned to tour flood-damage areas in Carter County Thursday after storms struck the day before. State police say a 72-year-old woman, Mary Littleton, is still missing after her mobile home was swept away by flooding in the Fultz community.

On Thursday afternoon, Calipari wrote on his Twitter account, "I'm looking into ways to help Pike County's flood victims & we'll have more info later today."

A few minutes later, he tweeted, "With the recent/recurring floods in Eastern Ky, Ellen reminded me last nite that these are the times when the Big Blue Nation defines itself."

Calipari, who goes by UKCoachCalipari on Twitter, also posted the link to the Red Cross, so his followers could help out.

And around 12:40 today, Calipari announced, "Ellen & I are pledging $5,000 from the Calipari Family Foundation 4 Children as a start 2 our flood relief funds & supplies-raising efforts."

Battling numerous major line breaks, the water company has restored service to about 800 households in the past 24 hours. But nearly 25,000 residents are still on indefinite boil water advisory.

Meanwhile, distributing clean water is the top priority.

Rain is not the kind of water they need in Pike County. But with spirits not dampened -- at flood relief centers pike county wide -- palate after palate of bottled water come in and go right back out . It’s all quenching the hundreds of flood victims still fighting the mud and the mess – not to mention the melting heat.

The John’s Creek station is one of a dozen Pike County volunteer fire department water distribution stations. It’s where water to drink and bleach to clean with have folks like Harold Gannon delivering these liquid essentials to families still trapped.

But flood victims do not live on water alone.

At the Community Funeral Home at the mouth of hard hit Raccoon Creek, the Southeast Telephone company’s volunteers have set up a drive-in water and hot dog stand.

“The aftermath of the flooding in Pike County is really unlike anything I’ve seen before,” said Gov. Beshear, who visited the area yesterday to meet with local officials. “Swiftly moving water is extremely dangerous and its ability to cause destruction should never be underestimated.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel arrived in Pike County yesterday. After being briefed by local and Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) officials, teams were assembled and county assessments were assigned. These teams will begin PDAs throughout the county today. These damage assessments will be used to support Gov. Beshear’s request for federal assistance.

“We are hoping to expedite the assistance process by having the FEMA teams conduct these damage assessments with our local teams,” said John Heltzel, director for KYEM. “We want to bring whatever assistance is needed, and eligible, to all of Pike County and its residents as soon as possible.”

Officials encourage those who have suffered property damage to photograph the damage, save any repair receipts and report your damage to the local emergency management director.

The Kentucky National Guard currently has 24 Soldiers on duty providing support to Pike County. For the past several days, members of the 577th Sapper Company, 201st Engineer Battalion have conducted security patrols in humvees in support of local law enforcement, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews have assisted in damage assessment. Additional troops from the 201st are being brought on to provide communications and logistical support in the distribution of bottled water.

If you do not have the family and/or financial resources to clean out your property, you can call 606-432-0210 to request volunteer assistance.

“Folks need to be aware volunteer groups are available to help clean up they cannot dismantle or remove destroyed homes,” said Jim Garrett, Voluntary Agency Liaison for Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

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