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See photos of Eastern Kentucky before and after deadly flooding

By Rayleigh Deaton and Ryan Hermens

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Flooding in Eastern Kentucky

“Catastrophic” flash flooding hit parts of Eastern Kentucky July 28, 2022.

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The deadly flash flooding throughout Eastern Kentucky has resulted in widespread destruction, rendering impacted communities virtually unrecognizable.

Thousands of Kentuckians are without power, many people have died and the death toll could rise, and residents and relief teams are left to salvage homes damaged by the rising waters.

Drone photos and video provide an aerial view of the extensive flooding and debris, depicting houses almost completely submerged in muddy water and crews of workers beginning what will likely be a long cleanup process.

When compared to images of those same locations from Google Earth, the before and after photos show how catastrophic Thursday’s historic flooding was to residents of Eastern Kentucky. The then and now pictures illustrate the severity of the life and death situation and the likelihood of a long cleanup.

Flooded buildings in Garrett

Buildings and roads are flooded in Garrett, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Buildings and roads are flooded in Garrett, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
Buildings and roads are flooded in Garrett, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Buildings and roads are flooded in Garrett, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
Buildings and roads are flooded in Garrett, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Buildings and roads are flooded in Garrett, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

Breathitt County

A truck drives along flooded Wolverine Road in Breathitt County, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
A truck drives along flooded Wolverine Road in Breathitt County, Ky., on Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
Flooding in the early morning on July 28, 2022, near Wolverine Road in Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Flooding in the early morning on July 28, 2022, near Wolverine Road in Breathitt County, Kentucky. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
Buildings and roads are flooded near Wolverine, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Buildings and roads are flooded near Wolverine, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
Buildings and roads are flooded near Lost Creek, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Buildings and roads are flooded near Lost Creek, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

Flooded homes near Quicksand, Ky.

Home and structures are flooded near Quicksand, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Home and structures are flooded near Quicksand, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
Home and structures are flooded near Quicksand, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Home and structures are flooded near Quicksand, Ky., Thursday, July 28, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

Whitesburg Middle School

Mud covers tennis courts near Whitesburg Middle School in Whitesburg, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022.
Mud covers tennis courts near Whitesburg Middle School in Whitesburg, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

Whitesburg Community Pool

The Whitesburg Community Pool is filled with flood water in Whitesburg, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022.
The Whitesburg Community Pool is filled with flood water in Whitesburg, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

KY-931 bridge over Sandlick Creek near Whitesburg

People work to clear a house from a bridge near the Whitesburg Recycling Center in Letcher County, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022.
People work to clear a house from a bridge near the Whitesburg Recycling Center in Letcher County, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

Elkhorn City, Ky.

Volunteers and city workers try to reconnect the water supply to a nursing home in Elkhorn City, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022. The pipe, along with some of KY-197, washed away yesterday when the Russel Fork flooded.
Volunteers and city workers try to reconnect the water supply to a nursing home in Elkhorn City, Ky., on Friday, July 29, 2022. The pipe, along with some of KY-197, washed away yesterday when the Russel Fork flooded. Ryan C. Hermens rhermens@herald-leader.com
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.
The same location shown above, taken from a Google Earth screenshot.

This story was originally published July 29, 2022 at 3:15 PM with the headline "See photos of Eastern Kentucky before and after deadly flooding."

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Rayleigh Deaton
Lexington Herald-Leader
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Flooding in Eastern Kentucky

“Catastrophic” flash flooding hit parts of Eastern Kentucky July 28, 2022.

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