River crests, roads remain flooded
Published 4:20 pm Thursday, March 4, 2021
This photo of a man said to be Larry Sparks went viral on Facebook, having been shared 5,400 times by Thursday morning. He is kayaking through the bar area of Hall's on the River near Boonesborough afer it flooded early this week.
Athens-Boonesboro Road ended in the Kentucky River near Hall's restaurant Thursday morning. The river is slowly going down, but Athens-Boonesboro remained closed Friday morning. (Photo by Randy Patrick)
A sign warned motorists the road was impassable on Athens-Boonesboro Friday. (Photo by Randy Patrick)
This large home and garage on Athens-Boonesboro Road were under water Thursday. (Photo by Randy Patrick)
Hall's on the River was in the river this week as floodwaters rose inside the restaurant.
A man looks at the damage to a neighbor's home on Amster-Grove Road that was done by the flooding of the Kentucky River. (Photo by Randy Patrick)
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Three days after heavy rainfall left roads underwater and homes flooded, the Kentucky River crested at more than 38 feet Wednesday at Ford before it began to slowly recede.
The river was 12 feet above flood stage, according to the National Weather Service.
The record height of the river at Lock and Dam No. 10 at Ford was just over 40 feet in 1978.
“It’s the second-highest flood ever in Clark County history,” said Allan Curtis, head of the County Road Department.
Curtis said Wednesday that several county roads were still flooded, including the 4500 section of Pine Ridge, Four Mile Road before the campground, Indian Creek Road, Jackson Ferry at Indian Creek, Red River Road at Lattimore Lane and Vienna Road to the end.
He said road crews were checking others to see if they were impassable.
Natasha Lacy, a spokeswoman for District7 of the state Department of Highways office in Lexington, reported several state roads in Clark County also closed Wednesday because of high water. Those were parts of Mina Station or Ky. 1028, Athens-Boonesboro or Ky. 418, Red River Road or Ky. 974 and Ford Road or Ky. 1924.
Curtis said Athens-Boonesboro Road, which was closed between mile points 4 and 5, was one of the worst areas affected. Firefighters had been evacuating people from flooded homes.
“It was crazy. They had to rent boats and use inflatables,” he said.
Clark County Fire Battalion Chief Will Jordan said Wednesday firefighters had evacuated about 10-15 people from three or four homes in that area.
“We had houses that had water up into the second floor,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of people who are going to be hurt by this.”
Local firefighters also assisted in a Bluegrass Emergency Response Team effort to rescue more than 90 families in Powell County at Clay City.
Winchester Fire-EMS and the Clark County Fire Department provided mutual aid to each other but didn’t have to request help from the National Guard or other fire departments, Jordan said.
County Judge-Executive Chris Pace and Gov. Andy Beshear both have issued state of emergency declarations.
Central Kentucky has gotten a break from the rain after the downpours over the weekend and into Monday.
The rivers and other streams are falling, Jordan said, and it may be that by Friday, “Clark County can open up.”
The forecast calls for sunshine Thursday through Monday, clouds Tuesday and Wednesday, and no more rain until next Thursday and Friday.
“Hopefully, we’ll get a couple of weeks to dry out,” Jordan said.
About Randy Patrick
Randy Patrick is a reporter for Bluegrass Newsmedia, which includes The Jessamine Journal. He may be reached at 859-759-0015 or by email at randy.patrick@bluegrassnewsmedia.com.
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