LOUISVILLE, Ky. — One Louisville police department has sent officers to Letcher County, assisting with recovery efforts following deadly flooding in eastern Kentucky.
Sergeant George Jetter said the St. Matthews Police Department is helping the Jenkins Police Department and the Fleming-Neon Police Department with patrols and response efforts.
Jetter said in the wake of the floods, the small departments reached out for help managing day-to-day police work.
“One is literally a two-man department the other a five-man department, these individuals have also been victims of the flooding and are working around the clock," he said.
The department posted on Facebook, writing the disaster hits home for one of their sergeants who was born and raised in Letcher County.
"With the help of an anonymous SMPD supporter we were able to rent an RV to take to Letcher County for officers to live in," police wrote in the post.
Jetter said when the officers at SMPD heard about the need for help in Letcher County, they jumped at the chance.
“We had many individuals who volunteered without question," he said. “To help their communities and help anyone in need no matter where they are.”
Jetter returned home Wednesday. He said the damage the floods did is hard to imagine.
“The level of devastation is something words can’t describe, it’s something you have to experience first hand," he said. “There was one time when I observed a roof to a house, but no house.”
Jetter said there are three St. Matthews police officers still in the region helping local law enforcement. Officers will stay for at least two more weeks and then reassess if the departments still need help.
“It’s important that we recognize there are a lot of folks down there that are still in need and we’re just not hearing about," he said.
"We are grateful to be able to help, as pictures do not do the devastation justice," the department said. "Please keep everyone in eastern Kentucky in your thoughts and prayers."
Here's how you can help flood survivors:
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
Sign up for the WHAS11 newsletter: "WHAS Up Kentuckiana." Get the latest headlines and videos from around Kentuckiana delivered daily to your inbox.
