[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 129 (Tuesday, August 2, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Flooding in Kentucky

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we learn more each day about the 
devastating toll that ongoing flooding has inflicted on Eastern 
Kentucky. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, Kentuckians are 
grieving lost family members and friends and neighbors.
  One of the victims of last weekend's flash floods was Gabe Hensley, a 
30-year-old coal miner and father. Gabe was working a shift when the 
floods hit. On his way home to rescue his wife and son, he stopped to 
help a man who had wrecked a four-wheeler. He cleared trees and turned 
people away from danger. Then, tragically, the floodwaters swept Gabe 
away.
  As Gabe's cousin told the Herald-Leader yesterday, ``Eastern Kentucky 
lost a hero.''
  We are all grieving for the men, women, and children this flood has 
taken from us. The Hensley family has asked that people honor Gabe by 
helping other flood victims. Flooding, high winds, and power outages 
are still ongoing, and forecasters predict more heavy rainfall in the 
region throughout next week. The threat of even more disaster in 
Eastern Kentucky is acute.

  I spoke with the Governor, State legislative leaders, and officials 
on the ground in Eastern Kentucky yesterday. They echoed the need for 
food, cleaning supplies, and water.
  In such dire times, the ray of hope is the fact that generous 
Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth are hearing these calls for 
help and answering loud and clear. Already, the Eastern Kentucky relief 
fund has received about $2.3 million in charitable donations. Across my 
home State, from the Winchester VWF to neighborhood restaurants in 
Northern Kentucky, locals are organizing donation drives. The 
University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville's men's 
basketball teams are both fundraising for flood relief, and police 
departments from around the region donated cruisers to help with search 
and rescue.
  All this generosity will play a crucial role as we begin to rebuild. 
As the officials I spoke to emphasized, it will be a long road ahead 
for the families affected by these awful floods. But I know I speak for 
every Kentuckian when I say: We will be with them every single step of 
the way.