As McLean County faces historic flooding and mounting damage, U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie visited the area this week to see the devastation himself and advocate for the county’s inclusion in a federal disaster declaration.
During his visit, Guthrie met with Dame, Livermore Mayor Sharon Boyken, Calhoun Mayor Bruce Cabbage, and other local officials to assess the widespread damage and discuss the timeline for state and federal aid.
“It was eye-opening to be with local officials in McLean County today to see the damage and destruction recent flooding has brought to our communities,” Guthrie said. I am grateful for our first responders, National Guardsmen, and volunteers working around the clock to save lives and begin the process of rebuilding. After being on the ground to see the damage first-hand, one thing is abundantly clear to me – this is a major disaster.”
Guthrie emphasized that while McLean County had not yet been included in the initial major disaster declaration request, he is pushing to ensure the area is added as federal and state agencies complete their assessments.
“While Governor Beshear has not yet requested a major disaster declaration for McLean County, my office has been in touch to ensure they are added,” Guthrie said. “As more assessments are completed by FEMA and Kentucky Emergency Management, I hope that President Trump will grant these major disaster declaration requests quickly to get our communities the aid they need to recover.”
Dame said early efforts focused on life safety, evacuations, and emergency coordination. A preliminary report compiled by the county documented 20-30 official rescue responses each day from April 9-11. Dame noted that number likely doubled when including rescues conducted by neighbors and private citizens.
“We had to be proactive,” Dame said. “We’ve tied in dispatch and moved all emergency calls to the EOC. Our documentation has been constant — drones, aerial photos, incident logs — everything FEMA will need is being compiled.”
Infrastructure repairs remain a pressing concern. Dame said the county is still recovering from damage sustained in February’s flooding and expects the current damage to far exceed those figures. The county has requested additional coal severance funds and is also considering USDA programs to help with debris management and road reconstruction.
Local leaders said the delay in qualifying for individual assistance stems from the inability of FEMA teams to access submerged neighborhoods for formal assessments. Guthrie expressed frustration with the system.
“If the roads are so bad you can’t get there, maybe that’s a qualification in and of itself,” Guthrie said. “McLean County may be one of the most impacted in the Commonwealth, yet they could be left out of the first round of federal aid. That process needs to change.”
In Livermore and Calhoun, concerns over drainage, overwhelmed sewer lines, and the environmental toll of the flooding were also discussed. Cabbage said storm drains in Calhoun were backing up, even into homes, and Boyken noted that lease agreements at RV parks have been rewritten to ensure evacuations are mandatory when waters rise.
“There were 40 residents we evacuated this time that didn’t leave during the last flood,” Boyken said. “We’re not taking that risk again.”
Officials also noted reports of unauthorized individuals in flood zones claiming to be with FEMA. Dame said the county is working with the Red Cross and other agencies to distribute proper identification and issue curfews early in the response effort to limit looting and unauthorized entry.
With more rain in the forecast, local officials are bracing for additional challenges but are hoping strong documentation, coordination, and advocacy will bring much-needed relief.
“This is the worst flooding event we’ve faced,” Dame said. “But thanks to the support of our partners and the resilience of our people, we’re doing everything possible to recover and rebuild — we just need the federal government to meet us where we are.”
