U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) stands ready to assist communities and families in Johnson and Rowan Counties where emergency officials say disastrous flash flooding has claimed at least two lives with several others missing, and damaged or destroyed dozens of homes, churches and businesses. 

"My heart is heavy for the people of Eastern Kentucky who have lost nearly everything in this devastating storm," said Congressman Rogers. "I applaud the Kentucky National Guard and local emergency responders for the fast and dedicated response as intense search and rescue efforts continue. As always, through the storm, volunteers have also jumped into action within a 50-mile radius to help their neighbors. We are resilient, because the people of Eastern Kentucky are always ready to help their neighbors in the darkest hour."

Rogers stands ready to support any necessary requests for federal emergency response as state and local officials on the ground survey the amount of damage in Eastern Kentucky. 

On Tuesday morning, Rogers shared the heartbreaking story of flash flooding in Johnson County while urging members of the House Appropriations Committee to support the federal funding for FEMA emergency funding in the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill for Homeland Security.

"In one county alone, we had eleven people missing and one confirmed death with more rain on the way. So, to all of us in our home districts, the FEMA emergency funding is absolutely vital and one of the mainstays of this bill." 

The House Appropriations Committee passed the bill, which now heads to the full House.

Red Cross Emergency Shelters 

Johnson County Shelter:  Paintsville Recreation Center located at 232 Preston Street in Paintsville 
Rowan County Shelter: Carl Perkins Center located on Crayton Jackson Lane in Morehead

Donations

Monetary donations can be made to the Johnson County Fiscal Court to coordinate the relief efforts of the Long-Term Recovery Committee that was established as a result of the deadly tornadoes that swept across Eastern Kentucky in the Spring of 2012. 

Operation UNITE and Eastern Kentucky PRIDE will be collecting supplies for families impacted by the flash floods in Johnson County. The two non-profit organizations launched by Congressman Rogers will be collecting items through Thursday to be delivered to the Johnson Central High School distribution center.

UNITE will be collecting items at its London office located at 350 C.A.P. Drive, beside the Kentucky National Guard Joint Readiness Center. For more information, call 1-866-OP-UNITE.

PRIDE will be collecting items at its Somerset office located at the Center for Rural Development at 2292 South Highway 27. For more information, call 606-677-6150. 

Click here for UNITE and PRIDE's list of donation items being collected. 

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