Pike County, FEMA and state officials detail rescue efforts and recovery after major flooding

Pike County Judge Executive Ray Jones urged patience and described a continuing recovery effort after a devastating flood that officials called the county's most significant since 1977, while state and federal officials pledged support and outlined federal assistance.

The briefing on the response and recovery highlighted rescue operations, utility restoration and debris removal needs across multiple Pike County communities, and repeated official assurances that state and federal resources were being coordinated to help residents rebuild.

Judge Executive Ray Jones opened the briefing by thanking first responders and describing the scale of the emergency, saying the county “had a lot of folks who stepped up and performed over 600 water rescues.” He listed flood-affected areas including Belfry, Pine Creek, Shelby Valley, Elkhorn Creek, Marble, Red Creek, Colerun, Woodman, Freeborn, Peter Creek, Knox Creek, Pawn Creek and South Williams, and said the event had claimed county residents’ lives (number not specified).

Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson described how state and federal teams were prepositioned and deployed. “At some point, there's more rescues than one team can do. So we started leveraging that federal team to come to our assistance,” Gibson said, noting urban search-and-rescue teams and mutual-aid crews from multiple states that have supplemented local responders. Gibson also credited rapid action on the emergency declaration process, saying the governor’s office drafted a declaration that the president executed "very, very quickly."

Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton emphasized the federal commitment and urged survivors to seek assistance. “This is something that President Trump cares deeply about,” Hamilton said, and he pointed residents to disasterassistance.gov for information on federal help. The number cited during the briefing was transcribed as +1 80621; officials directed residents to the FEMA website for the clearest contact information.

Officials described shifting from response to recovery, with priorities that include clearing storm-related debris, reopening roads and restoring utilities. Ray Jones said many Mountain Water customers have been restored but some remain without water after more than a week; the briefing named Mountain Water and Kentucky Power employees for their work on water and electric restoration.

Speakers repeatedly recognized local volunteers, church groups and national partners, including urban search-and-rescue task forces and Samaritan’s Purse, for relief work. Gibson said federal and state staff remain in close contact with local officials and asked communities to channel unmet needs through local emergency managers so state and federal partners can respond.

Officials did not announce a specific dollar estimate for damages at the briefing; Gibson said damage estimates are still coming in and that the state legislature and congressional delegation are coordinating to secure assistance. The briefing ended with an appeal for patience as recovery operations continue and with repeated thanks to first responders and community volunteers.

The press conference concluded without local formal actions announced at the meeting; officials described ongoing implementation of the presidential emergency declaration and deployment of federal assets.