In this file photo, Ursuline Sister of Mount St. Joseph Larraine Lauter demonstrated the use of a Sawyer PointOne filter in the Water With Blessings office in Middletown. (Record file Photo by Ruby Thomas)Water filters poised to aid Eastern Kentucky

Water and cleaning supplies are the two most important needs right now as Eastern Kentucky battles catastrophic flooding and continued rain, Governor Andy Beshear said in a July 29 press conference.

At least 16 people have died and an unknown number are unaccounted for in the floods that have wiped out mountain communities in Appalachia. As part of the humanitarian response, the governor said, water will be airlifted to the area. He said 28 state roads were impassable at the time.

Meanwhile, St. Patrick Church in Mount Sterling, Ky., has access to Sawyer PointOne water filters that can turn the floodwater surrounding the region into a virtually endless supply of safe drinking water.

One filter can provide three million gallons of clean water with proper use.

“I have filters and buckets in my backseat right now,” said Vicki Wenz, the pastoral associate of St. Patrick.

She has nine of the filters — commonly used by hikers and hunters — ready to deliver to churches just south and east of her parish and can get more as needed.

Kontinye li atik la plen isit la.