Madison Co. flood survivors recall escaping rising water that killed their neighbors

MADISON COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Days after a flood killed two people at a University Drive apartment building, survivors are staying in a hotel and relying on a local organization while they wait to learn whether permanent housing is available.

Jose Perez Gomez lived in the basement apartment at 306 University Drive for three years alongside the two people killed — John Powell and Patricia Beck, who was Perez Gomez’s girlfriend. He said the basement filled with water within minutes as rain fell Saturday morning.

‘I can’t sleep or nothing’

Perez Gomez said Powell was trapped in his room. Beck had made it out but went back inside to retrieve her cat. By the time she returned, the water had completely filled the basement, trapping her as well.

“I hollered at Patricia, ‘Let’s go, let’s get out of here,’” Perez Gomez said. “The last words I could hear from her — ‘I can’t swim.’”

Perez Gomez said the experience has continued to affect him in the days since.

“It’s been about three whole days, two days,” he said. “I can’t sleep or nothing. I can hear the water at nighttime. It’s that bad.”

Residents placed in hotel after building condemned

Richard Walker lived upstairs in the same building. A U.S. Navy veteran living with Parkinson’s disease, Walker said he had lost his wife the previous year and had lived in the apartment with his dog for less than a year.

“Everybody that lived in the house knew each other, knew about each other, therefore everybody was like family,” Walker said. “It was a sad day.”

After the building was condemned, the local organization ENRICH placed several tenants in a hotel while they wait to learn whether permanent housing is available.

“We have no idea when things are going to transpire or when they’re not, so we’re just waiting for the phone call,” Walker said.

Perez Gomez said his faith has helped him in the aftermath of the flood.

“The Lord is with us at the same time,” he said. “The Lord had saved us.”