Beshear declares state of emergency for Fleming-Neon due to water shortage

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for Fleming-Neon in Letcher County due to a water shortage.

Limited rainfall in 2023 left the city without sufficient water.

Now, due to low water levels in the city’s freshwater well, Fleming-Neon Mayor Rick Burke declared a local state of emergency on Jan. 5. That day, Kentucky Emergency Management provided Fleming-Neon with 22 pallets of drinking water, and yesterday, the mayor told KYEM that the city needs additional drinking water.

With the city and state of emergencies, Beshear and KYEM can coordinate responses to help the city.

“[Wedneday’s] action of declaring a state of emergency for the city of Fleming-Neon is intended to put into motion all the things we can do at the state level to help alleviate the situation and provide support,” Beshear said. “We stand ready to help make sure our people have access to clean water.”

To read the executive order, head here:

20240110_Executive-Order_2024-027_Fleming-Neon-Water-Shortage