LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- Rising water from the Ohio River is causing concern for the Louisville homeless population. Many individuals of the homeless community camp along the city’s waterfront and have been in danger of serious flooding within their homes.
"Tuesday night the difference from one day to the next was amazing, how much the water had come up to cover a tent," Christen Herron, also known as “Tiny”, with The Forgotten Louisville, said.
Herron showed WHAS11 one of the camps that has been most affected. She and other volunteers have been out at the camps every night this week providing meals, supplies, and doing welfare checks.
These photos, taken by outreach volunteers over the last few days, show the reality of being homeless on the waterfront during a week that has seen major flooding.
Many of their tents were submerged in water and personal belongings destroyed at the beginning of the week.
"Its hard right now. It’s very hard," one waterfront resident said.
Julia didn't want to show her face but shared what she saw when she returned home Tuesday night.
"I thought I had at least another night and by the time I got back, half the tent was full of water, everything in there was gone," she said.
Julia's old tent is about 100 yards from her new one. Thursday morning you could only see the top of it through dense brush.
Herron said, "We know that the river is going to get closer and closer and closer so we have been on foot, different outreaches, throughout the week checking on the campers, warning them--watch the water, actually trying to get some of them to move up."
For now, everyone is OK.
But Herron knows this flooding can mean life or death so until the water recedes, they will be here, ensuring everyone stays as safe as possible.
The outreach groups are also working with city officials to ensure everyone stays safe. The is city encouraging people to move to higher ground and avoid the flood waters, even if it exposes them.
The Forgotten Louisville needs the following supplies:
*Tents
*Sleeping bags
Blankets
Gloves
*Propane (small green tanks)
*Sterno
*Batteries (all sizes)
*Flashlights
*lanterns
Candles
Fire starters
Matches/lighters
Hand warmers (winter)
Razors
Water
Tarps
Socks (men & women's)
Underwear (men & women's)
Thermals
Wipes
Bug spray (spring & summer months)
Sunscreen (spring & summer months)
Canned goods/meats
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