COVINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky first lady Britainy Beshear was in Covington Friday to recognize swift water first responders for their extraordinary service during severe storms in February that led to flooding in the commonwealth.

What You Need To Know

  • It had been a busy February for Covington Fire Department engineer and EMT Nick Boots

  • His type 3 swift water team, a six-person crew, was mobilized on Feb. 15, first to western Kentucky, and then to Hazard in the eastern part of the state, taking calls throughout Perry and Knott County

  • Covington swift water responders had the longest deployment of any team in the state during the month’s severe weather

  • Britainy Beshear recognized their efforts, along with Hebron and Ashland fire departments

It had been a busy February for Covington Fire Department engineer and EMT Nick Boots.

His type 3 swift water team, a six-person crew, was mobilized on Feb. 15, first to western Kentucky, and then to Hazard in the eastern part of the state, taking calls throughout Perry and Knott County.

“We received a list of roads throughout the county, and we searched houses and roads, checking to see how accessible the roads were, and to make sure there were no problems with the occupants in those houses,” Boots said.

Covington swift water responders had the longest deployment of any team in the state during the month’s severe weather. On Friday, Beshear came to recognize their efforts, along with Hebron and Ashland fire departments.

“To be able to thank somebody who left their home area to help somebody across Kentucky is really special. So I wanted to convey my gratitude to them in person,” Beshear said.“To be able to thank somebody who left their home area to help somebody across Kentucky is really special. So I wanted to convey my gratitude to them in person,” Beshear said.

Swift water crews rescued over 1,300 Kentuckians in February. It was the 13th federally declared disaster in the state just in the five years since Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., took office. This latest event claimed the lives of 23 Kentuckians.

“But without the heroes in this room, we would’ve lost so many more,” Beshear said. “We don’t know why this keeps happening to Kentucky, and why the same communities keep getting hit over and over, but what we do know and what we see is that there is always God in the response.”

Boots has seen a lot of tragedy in his career. It’s easy to become desensitized.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, because it helps you perform in a crisis. What we do, we do see a lot of bad things. We become desensitized to it, but it helps us perform when we need to perform,” he said. “That’s our driving factor, is to help people. There’s a lot of destruction in eastern Kentucky. And all of the people we encountered were super nice. They were grateful we were there. So that helps us, kind of motivates us to keep going.”

“This is our job. This is what we do. And whenever that call comes in, we don’t hesitate to respond.”He said it was an honor to be recognized by the first lady, even though, “We don’t do it for the recognition at all,” Boots said. “This is our job. This is what we do. And whenever that call comes in, we don’t hesitate to respond.”

Because they didn’t hesitate, many others got to go home to their families.

Gov. Beshear announced the first week of March will be severe weather awareness week, encouraging Kentuckians to plan and prepare so they can keep themselves, their families and their communities safe.

The state also has a storm relief fund that people can donate to. Beshear said the first thing it will do is pay for the funerals of the 23 storm victims.

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