JACKSON, Ky. — More than 60 people sought shelter Thursday at the Lees College gymnasium in Breathitt County, and every one of them was looking for something.

Some lost pets. Many lost their homes. But in the aftermath of the devastating flood that tore through Eastern Kentucky overnight, which Gov. Andy Beshear has said resulted in at least 16 deaths, everyone in the Jackson shelter had something in common – they were looking for answers.

Heather Akers' son is deployed in Africa. Her daughter-in-law and two grandsons, though, live in Breathitt County – and Thursday afternoon, she couldn't find them anywhere.

The flooding started Wednesday evening and continued throughout the day Thursday. Many residents began abandoning their homes early that morning, with the shelter on the campus in Jackson filling up throughout the day.

More:A day later, here's everything we know about the flooding in Eastern Kentucky

Akers and her daughter, Chalese Triplett, had been looking frantically for their family members since 8 a.m. Akers arrived around 4:30 p.m. at Lee's College to see if 23-year-old Ashley Branson and her sons, ages 1 and 4, were safe in the gymnasium. They weren't.

As the Akers and Triplett waited, Triplett received a message – Branson's trailer had been found abandoned. Fighting back tears, the two encouraged one another to stay strong. Akers' son, she said, had a plea for her as well.

"He told me to find his babies," she said.

Another flood survivor, Phelisha McIntosh, said she'd heard Akers' three missing family members were picked up by a rescue vehicle. She was unsure, though, what had happened to the vehicle, whish she said had 11 people in it.

For the last 18 months, Jackson residents Chad and April Stivers have been working to remodel a house on Highway 476, which runs through the town. But Thursday, they were standing on top of a treadmill using a hammer to smash through their roof. The couple, their son, and their five huskies fled to the top of their house to escape the surging currents that threatened to trap them inside.

"The water went from my ankles to my chest in 45 minutes," Chad said. "I've never seen anything like this before."

They'd experienced serious flooding in 2021 as well. But the couple, born and raised in Breathitt County, said they can't remember a time they saw floods this bad.

"The one we had one last year, they said it was the biggest one since the 80s or 50s or something," Chad said. "It didn't even get in our yard, what everyone saying was a bad flood. This time, it's completely covering our house."

Under normal conditions, April said, she can look down from their home's yard to see Troublesome Creek about 75 feet away. By 6:30 a.m., she said, the 12-foot-wide creek was full, and spilling into their lawn.

VIDEO: See the historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky after historic rains

"It was instant," April said. "Out of nowhere."

The couple was airlifted out at about 11:30 a.m., they said, after April's mother used Facebook to call for help. They were forced to leave behind their dogs, though – the huskies were stranded on the roof as water continued to rise. They're grateful to be alive, April said, but they hadn't heard anything about the huskies since then.

"If (my mom) wouldn't have gotten ahold of somebody I don't know what would've happened, because I can't swim" April said.

Phelisha McIntosh can't find her older sister.

The last time McIntosh heard from Kristen Noble and her husband, Justin Noble, was Thursday afternoon. The couple, who live on Highway 476, were calling for help earlier that day, McIntosh said.

"They said they couldn't get to her at the moment and no one has heard from her in the last three or four hours," she said. "And she can't swim."

McIntosh and her fiancée, Earnest White, woke up Thursday morning to their back bedroom filling with water. Then, the floodwater began slowly seeping under their front door, and other family members who'd already been flooded out of their own homes started showing up at their residence.

Read more:Eastern Kentucky flooding ravages Breathitt County, conjures memories of previous disasters

Emmy Fugate, White's sister, was among them. According to White and McIntosh, she lives in a nearby trailer park that is now flooded.

This isn't the first time Fugate has been through this, either . She lost everything in last year's flood as well, McIntosh said.

White is no stranger to loss, either.

"I'll be 46 tomorrow. When I was 27 I lost everything I had. My house caught on fire and it killed my brother," he said. Now, he said, he's starting over again.

There are more pressing matters at hand, though. Both Fugate and White need daily medications. Fugate has leukemia and diabetes, and while she has medication on hand, it is a limited supply. White is completely out of the medicine he takes to prevent heart attacks and keep his kidneys from shutting down.

"They've been sick all day," McIntosh said.

More:Want to help those affected by Kentucky flooding? Here's what you can donate and where

The family left the apartment Thursday morning off Quicksand Road and had been at Lees College since, where they have a row of 5-6 cots. Volunteers have been providing them with food, drinks, towels and other supplies throughout the day.

Now, they're waiting for more information. Every now and then, McIntosh would pick up leads about what might have happened to her sister. And at about 5:30 p.m., someone told her they were sending boats up and down Noble's street.

"I hope they find my sister," McIntosh said, then looked to White. "I'm worried about my family, baby."

If you are aware of the status of any of these people, please contact Cameron Adams, a private citizen working at the shelter, at (859) 608-6616, who will pass information along to their families. There are steps to report additional missing persons and other ways to help the community.