Where to find cooling centers, shelters in Eastern KY ahead of expected extreme heat

Taylor Six
Silas Walker/swalker@herald-leader.com

As heavy rainfall continued early in the week and extreme heat is expected to hit Eastern Kentucky next, Gov. Andy Beshear announced several places for residents displaced by recent flooding to seek shelter.

In a press conference Tuesday, Beshear said the Buckhorn Lake State Park is open and able to take in those who need shelter. There are 37 people currently occupying rooms. Twenty-seven rooms and three cottages are still available.

“It has water, it has power,” Beshear said. “Thank you to Kentucky Power, thank you to the Kentucky Division of Water. Thank you to AT&T which got cell service up there. Buckhorn doesn’t normally have cell service up there. A great place for people to stay, take a shower because we have the water working — a real blessing. I knew it took moving heaven and earth. This was an area hit pretty much the hardest. To make this happen was the number one request in Perry County.”

Currently, 191 people are housed in state parks. At Jenny Wiley State Park in Floyd County, 145 people are occupying rooms, cottages and the campground. Campground space is still available.

Twenty-five travel trailers have also been sent to Jenny Wiley. Another 17 are being set up at the Knott County SportsPlex, as well as four in Carr Creek.

Five rooms are also available at the Pine Mountain State Resort Park.

Cooling centers have also been opened for refuge from temperatures expected near or above 100 degrees.

The cooling stations are:

  • Breathitt County: Breathitt Library, 1024 College Ave., Lost Creek

  • Floyd County: Floyd Community Center, 7199 KY-80, Langley

  • Johnson County: City of Paintsville Recreation Center, 232 Preston St., Paintsville

  • Knott County: Knott County Sportsplex, 450 Kenny Champion Loop, Leburn

  • Letcher County: Letcher County Central High School, 435 Cougar Drive, Whitesburg

  • Perry County: Perry County Community Center, 354 Perry Park, Hazard

  • Pike County: Valley Elementary School, 162 Douglas Pkwy., Pikeville

  • Wolfe County: Senior Center, 76 Marion St., Campton

“Don’t be too proud to go to one of these places, it is going to be really hot and really dangerous,” Beshear said.

Advertisement