Twenty employees of the city’s Dept. of Environmental Quality and Public Works are in Eastern Kentucky, helping the small community of Wayland recover from July’s flooding.
“I reached out to Mayors to see how we could help,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said. “We have equipment and experienced employees who can really make a difference there. It’s time to help our neighbors.”
Lexington volunteered its assistance after Wayland Mayor Jerry Fultz asked the Kentucky League of Cities for help. Wayland, which is in Floyd County, has about 400 residents.
“Last week, 10 of us drove to Wayland,” said Department of Environmental Quality and Public Works Commissioner Nancy Albright. “When we toured Wayland, we felt that we could make a difference by using our staff and equipment for a few days. We developed three ways we could support them in the short term. ”
Albright said the team briefed the administration and Kentucky Emergency Management to make sure both approved.
City employees, some of whom had assisted in the tornado clean-up in Western Kentucky last year, “were proud and eager to help in this direct way,” Albright said.
City crews will mostly be working to scrape mud off the streets, clean storm sewers and pick up and disposing of debris.
The employees left Lexington Wednesday morning and will return Friday. “If Wayland still needs help next week, we will return,” Albright said.
