Kentucky Governor Andy Bashir said hundreds of people were still missing, and that the death toll, which had reached 30, was expected to rise, noting that bodies had been recovered that were not part of the previous official death toll..
More than 12,000 people remained without electricity, many because their homes and businesses were destroyed or uninhabitable. Shelters are now home to at least 300 people, according to the Associated Press.
The floods broke out last week, when 20-27 centimeters of rain fell in just 48 hours, in parts of eastern Kentucky, southwest and western Virginia.
Up to another 10.2 centimeters of rain fell, on Sunday, and the Meteorological Authority warned that rain and thunderstorms may lead to more torrential rain, until Tuesday morning..
Meanwhile, a night-time curfew was announced, in response to reports of looting in two affected communities (Braithet County and nearby Hindman in Knott County)..
Braithet County Executive Judge Jeff Noble announced a county-wide curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., county attorney Brendon Miller said Sunday evening in a Facebook post..
The only exceptions will be for emergency vehicles, paramedics and travelers on business missions.
“I hate to have to impose a curfew, but looting will never be tolerated. Our friends and neighbors have lost so much. We cannot stand idly by and let them lose what they have left,” the post read.
The mayor of Hindman, Tracy Nice, also announced a curfew on Sunday night, from sunset to sunrise, due to “excessive looting”, according to a television channel..
The officials explained that the curfew in the two regions will remain in effect “until further notice.”
For his part, President Joe Biden last week declared the area a “disaster zone,” which means directing relief money to flooded counties.
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