How to help and get help in the midst of Kentucky flooding, winter storm

by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern
February 19, 2025

Kentucky is in the middle of a deadly storm sandwich of floods, snowfall and frigid temperatures that has killed 14. 

Below are some resources both for those who need and want to provide help. 

Emergency phone numbers

In the middle of a life threatening emergency situation, call 911. 

For other emergency needs, call Kentucky Emergency Management at 502-607-6665. 

Kentucky emergency shelters

With temperatures expected to drop into the single digits this week, Gov. Andy Beshear said anyone who cannot safely heat their homes should seek out emergency shelter. 

As of Wednesday, Kentucky has 11 emergency shelters open. They are: 

Glasgow: Bridge Kentucky in Barren County, 1411 North Race St. Suite E.Jackson: Lee’s College Gymnasium in Breathitt County: 601 Jefferson Ave.Hardinsburg: Old Courthouse in Breckinridge County: 208 South Main Street.Princeton: Caldwell County Courthouse: 100 E. Market Street.Newport: Campbell County Cold Shelter, 524 Columbia St.Langley: Floyd County Community Center, 7199 Kentucky Rt. 80.Henderson: Harbor House Christian Men’s Center in Henderson County: 804 Clay St..Barbourville: First Baptist Church in Knox County: 201 N. Main St.Louisa: Lawrence County Community Center: 180 Bulldog Ln.Whitley City: McCreary County Senior CenterL 2255 N. Hwy 27Hazard: Hazard-Perry County Senior Citizens: 354 Perry Park Rd.

Blood donations needed

During hazardous weather, blood drives get cancelled and road closures can cause delays in getting blood where it’s needed. 

Beshear and others have asked people who can to make a donation appointment. 

Find a Kentucky Blood Center drive here: https://my.kybloodcenter.org/donor/schedules/county Find a Red Cross drive here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/ Beshear also announced the Capitol will host a blood drive Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the rotunda for Frankfort residents and state employees. 

How can I help flood, cold survivors? 

The Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is a state-established fund to help survivors and pay for funerals. It had $120,000 from 1,234 donors as of Wednesday morning. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky’s Crisis Aid Fund is taking monetary donations online or in person at 420 Main Street Hazard, Ky. 41701. The foundation also has a resource spreadsheet for Eastern Kentucky. The Housing Development Alliance helps repair and rebuild homes in Eastern Kentucky. It’s trying to raise $50,000 for survivors and has raised a little more than $5,000. The Kentucky Community and Technical College is asking for donations in Eastern Kentucky to benefit students affected by the floods. The University of Kentucky has several funds to benefit students and employees in crisis. See those here. The Christian Appalachian Project asked for both financial donations and volunteers. Volunteers can email volunteermanagement@chrisapp.org for more information. Donate money online. Feed Louisville has asked for volunteers to drive trucks carrying food supplies to Whitesburg. Those interested can email volunteer@feedlouisville.org. 

Did we miss something? Let us know: sladd@kentuckylantern.com. 

This story may be updated. 

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.

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