WKYT team coverage of flooding

KENTUCKY (WKYT) - Thursday’s storm caused high water issues all across Kentucky.

Some schools even dismissed early to get students home safely before water could get over roads.

Anderson County

Anderson County Emergency Management Director Bart Powell says, luckily, in situations like this, it’s always the same few roads that typically have high water issues in heavy rains like this. So people living in Anderson county know to avoid them or be careful around them already.

Powell said that dry dock and rice road are closed because of high water. And they are monitoring Hammond Creek Road off of highway 44 right now.

Breathitt County

The images of rushing water in Breathitt County is unnerving for many in this community, just seven months after the deadly flash flooding.

On belch Fork Road the creek ran even with the pavement, even washing out this road to these homes.

A Man driving by said the last time he saw it that high was during those floods. A woman in the neighborhood said she was on edge, especially after she lost her sister in the floods.

Not far from belch fork, crews responded to a rockslide. Kentucky 52 closed while the boulder was removed.

Emergency management says for the most part there were no significant issues reported from Thursday’s rains. They monitored areas impacted by last summer’s floods and say some access points were damaged but nothing compared to what happened last year

Montgomery County

The rain has persisted throughout the day, and it’s that consistency that led Greg Beam to say it caused some of the most significant flooding he’s seen in his five years as the county’s emergency management director.

Beam says Several roadways were flooded, but the biggest impact came when Hinkston Creek overflowed its banks. That led two roadways to close Thursday afternoon in Mount Sterling, including East Main Street.

“The biggest issue is standing water if that gets into structures. Thankfully so far it hasn’t,” Beam said.

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Matt Thompson says they kept their students safe at school and have put together teams of staff members to stay behind for any kids who can’t get home.

The rain is continuing, so Beam wants everyone to be smart out on the roadways.

“Everyone knows their own neighborhood and where water usually stands. Be careful,” said Beam. “If water’s flowing over the road, just turn around. It’s not worth it. Find the back way in and keep your eyes on the road and be aware of your surroundings.”

While the water remains high and rain continues to come down, Beam is happy to say the water levels have dropped several inches and he hopes it will continue going in that direction.

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