Published: May 26, 2009 11:05 am      

Telethon raises nearly $50,000 for East Ky. flood victims

Special to The Times-Tribune

Wednesday’s East Kentucky Flood Relief Telethon on WYMT-TV helped raise nearly $50,000 for East Kentucky flood victims.

The three-hour on-air telethon included special guests, former UK and NFL quarterback Tim Couch, and country music duo Halfway To Hazard.

More than 800 homes in Breathitt, Floyd, Lee, Owsley and Pike Counties were destroyed or damaged so badly they are uninhabitable, according to county officials’ latest reports to the office of Congressman Hal Rogers. About 1,000 more homes were damaged but are livable. Thousands of people are dealing with washed out roads, septic tanks, culverts, bridges, gardens and other essential infrastructure.

Federal, state and private flood relief efforts are underway, but the need is still great. For example, the Red Cross in Lee and Owsley counties are asking for donations of furniture and cleaning supplies to help families put their homes back together.

Cleaning supplies, hygiene products, clothes, linens, furniture, appliances and nonperishable food items are still being accepted. The flood relief donations will be distributed in Breathitt, Floyd, Lee, Owsley and Pike counties.

The donation drop-off sites are:

• Somerset PRIDE Office in The Center for Rural Development (traffic light No. 15), 2292 S. Hwy. 27, 606-677-6150.

• London UNITE Office in Carnaby Square (Big Lots and Goodwill), 823 S. Main St., 606-330-1400.

• Hazard UNITE Office in the Hal Rogers Center, 101 Bulldog Lane, 606-487-3700.

• Prestonsburg UNITE Office beside the Big Sandy Area Development District, 100 Resource Dr., 606-889-0422.

Agencies accepting monetary donations are listed online at www.wymtnews.com under the “East Kentucky Flood Relief Telethon” tab.

For more information about donating relief supplies, call the PRIDE office in Somerset, toll free, at 888-577-4339.