California sends strike team to Kentucky following deadly flash flooding
SACRAMENTO — California has sent a strike team to Kentucky to assist with the ongoing response and recovery efforts following severe weather that has led to more than a dozen deaths.
On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved sending four incident support team personnel from Sacramento, Oakland and San Diego. A spokesperson for the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) said these four individuals will provide "technical assistance, management and coordination of urban search and rescue resources."
The Sacramento-based individual being sent is a member of the Sacramento City Fire Department.
"These are highly skilled specialists who will help coordinate teams on the ground and provide expertise when it comes to urban search and rescue during a major storm event," Cal-OES said in a statement.
Extreme cold weather including flash flooding has devastated parts of the central U.S. state over the weekend. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll in the state had reached at least 14 on Tuesday.
"Our thoughts are with the people of Kentucky as they recover from this tragic flooding," Gov. Newsom said. "Even as we recover from the L.A. fires, we stand ready to assist in any way we can and are proud to send skilled personnel and resources to help in this critical time."
Kentucky was among 11 states in the central U.S. under extreme cold warnings as near-record cold temperatures and wind chills in the single digits were expected by midweek, CBS News reported.
One small-town mayor in Kentucky said flooding left his community which is home to roughly 7,000 people submerged underwater.
Gov. Beshear said at least 1,000 people stranded by floods had to be rescued.
