The recent flash floods that have swept through the state of Kentucky have claimed the lives of 37 people and destroyed millions of dollars worth of property. Various reports indicate that as many as 12,000 homes are without electricity, with several hundred more completely damaged. As such, residents are having to queue for hours to receive necessities such as food, water, and even a smartphone charge.
Aside from the courageous efforts of emergency responders, several companies have jumped in to assist. Following in the footsteps of Mazda and Toyota, Ford CEO Jim Farley announced via Twitter that the Blue Oval is sending a fleet of F-150 Lightning trucks to affected areas, where they will be used as part of recovery efforts.
"Kentucky is part of our @Ford family, so we're working w/ @FordFund to support the communities affected by the devastating floods by sending #F150Lightning Pros & F-150s w/ Pro Power Onboard. The trucks will be used for cleanup efforts & mobile power sources in the region," Farley wrote on Twitter.
As mentioned, some of the electric pickups are equipped with Pro Power Onboard. This nifty feature will allow the various F-150 Lightning trucks to be used as mobile power stations. Ford claims trucks fitted with this are capable of supplying 9.6 kWh of power to a home, allowing victims to potentially charge essential devices like phones and perhaps even cook meals for larger groups. It's worth noting that the Lightning can power a single home for up to 10 days.
The extra vehicles provided by Ford will certainly aid the ongoing search and rescue attempts for survivors. However, that's not all the Blue Oval is doing to help. Through the Ford Motor Company Fund, the automaker has donated $125,000 for rebuilding and response efforts.
As mentioned, Toyota and Mazda have also stepped in to assist people in the region. For their respective customers, both companies have elected to offer payment relief options for affected vehicle owners. Toyota went one step further by donating $750,000 for rescue efforts.
Sadly, the Bluegrass state has fallen victim to myriad natural disasters in recent years. In December 2021, the state was ravaged by a tornado that wrecked GM's Bowling Green assembly plant and destroyed more than 120 Corvette C8s in the process.
For Kentucky and the many victims, the effects of the tragic floods have only just begun. We applaud not only the emergency responders for their valiant work but the various private companies for doing their bit as well. Hopefully, more automakers are moved by Ford, Toyota, and Mazda's efforts and decide to join in.