The viral photo that SAVED Mae Amburgey: 98-yr-old woman rescued from Kentucky floods
Among the survival stories coming from the massive flooding events, that hit eastern Kentucky on July 28, is the story of Mae Amburgey. A 98-year-old woman was rescued from her home after her photo, of sitting on a bed surrounded by four feet of water, went viral.
Mae’s picture was all over the Internet after her granddaughter, Missy Amburgey Crovetti, posted a flood-hit photo of her grandmother in her Letcher County home on July 28 on Facebook and asked for help from someone who might have a boat. She wrote: “My grandmother, Uncle and Brother are trapped in her house across from the high school if anyone has a boat around that area, the water is about 4 feet deep in the house.” The granddaughter further told Fox Weather that she tried to call for help but nobody was answering. "It was me desperate to get somebody to the house," who "out of desperation,” turned to Facebook, posting the photo of her grandmother "with hope in heart."
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Mission rescue
Later that day, Missy said, Mae and her son, Larry Amburgey, who is in his early 70s, swam out of the house located on Highway 119 across from Letcher County Central High School. Boats came to them and broke a window at the house, as per Herald Leader. The report further states that they were doing a decent job of swimming to the boats, however, the current was just too swift for them. Missy said her grandmother “got hung up on a bridge” but rescuers got to her quickly. She has suffered a laceration on her leg and is now under observation at Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital. On the other hand, her uncle traveled downstream before they got to him, which resulted in inhaling of water and was on a ventilator at the same hospital for around 15 hours. He is showing improvement.
Speaking more about Mae's health, the granddaughter said that her condition is good. "Yesterday she was very shaken up. Today she is just happy." Missy pointed out that they didn’t get out of the house sooner because the house had never flooded before other than having water in the basement and the water rose much more quickly than anyone would have imagined.
Kentucky flooding: Death toll rises to 25
As per CNN, the death toll has reached 25. Governor Andy Beshear said the immediate goal is "to get as many people to safety as possible" following what officials have described as unprecedented flooding in the region.
So far, hundreds of people have been rescued by air and water by National Guard members from Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia as well as by officers from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and State Police. Cellphone service is still out in some counties, and water systems are overwhelmed, according to the governor.