Flooding reaches historic levels

Five days of relentless rain last week caused widespread flooding in the county that hasn’t been seen in this area since the flood of 1937.

More than 11.3 inches of rain fell between April 2 and April 6 leaving many state and county roads underwater and blocking access for several houses in the area, according to Ohio County Emergency Management Director Charlie Shields.

Early last week, Shields said Ohio County began to prepare for rising water when the forecasts predicted 10-12 inches of rain were going to fall throughout the week. Kentucky State Police and the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department to assist in answering calls for service in case OCSO couldn’t make it through the flood waters. Ohio County Sheriff Adam Wright said that deputies and first responders were placed strategically around the county prior to the flooding to assist with calls.

Shields said that areas in Hartford and Dundee received the most flooding and are still flooded as of Tuesday morning.

Homes had been completely cut off by the massive flooding, Shields said. On Sunday, emergency responders took food and water to a family of 11 on Boswell Road in the Dundee area who couldn’t get out of their home. On Tuesday morning, crews were out on Kentucky 136 to check on residents to make sure they had enough food and medicine to last 5-7 days as the water in that area is expected to rise another 12-14 inches on Kentucky 136, 85, 69 North and possibly 269, he said.

Although the Rough River crested Sunday, Shields said, water from the Rough River is flowing into the already flooded Green River which isn’t expected to crest in Calhoun until Thursday. He said the backwater from the Rough and Green Rivers will cause more flooding along the already flooded areas in Hartford and Centertown areas.

The Green River at Calhoun was at 32.2 on Monday and was forecasted to reach 34.8 by Thursday afternoon. That is about 12 feet above flood stage and higher than the flood of 1997. According to the National Weather Service, that is the highest crest since Jan. 16, 1950.

The water in Dundee has begun to fall, and according to Shields, the water should be down enough for people to be able to come and go.

“Highway 69 South near the park should be down enough where people can drive through it Thursday or Friday.”

The problems caused by the cresting of the Green River will occur at the end of the week outside of the Hartford and Centertown area as water will continue to rise due to backwater. Shields said the Army Corps of Engineers told him that water is expected to be up for five to seven days.

This flood is being compared to the flood of 1937, but Shields said in a way it might be worse.

“In some aspects, it is going to be worse. Rough River is going to be within a couple of inches (of the 1937 flood level) but they do think the Green River is going to be up higher than then,” he said.

Ohio County is expecting additional rainfall on Thursday.

According to Shields, emergency responders have conducted one water rescue on U.S. 62 West just outside of McHenry on Monday.

High water signs have been placed at the following locations in KYTC District 2 as of 3 p.m. Tuesday:

U.S. 62 between the 3-3.5 mile points

U.S. 62 between the 4.6-5.5 mile points

U.S. 62 between the 8-10 mile points

U.S. 62 between the 11.8-12.7 mile points

U.S. 62 between the 15-17 mile points

KY 54 between the 2-3 mile points

KY 69 between the 3-4 mile points

KY 69 between the 12-13 mile points

KY 69 between the 13.7-14.1 mile points

KY 69 between the 15.6-16.1 mile points near Fair Grounds

KY 69 between the 18-19 mile points

KY 136 at the 3.6 mile point

KY 369 between the 0-1 mile points

KY 369 at the 2.9 mm and Union Hill Rd

KY 505 between the 14.2-15.6 mile points

KY 764 between the 6-7 mile points

KY 878 between the 5-6 mile points

KY 919 between the 3-4 mile points

KY 1245 between the 3.8-4.7 mile points

KY 1543 between the 1.4-1.7 mile points

KY 1543 between the 3-4 mile points

KY 1903 at the 0.3 mile point

KY 2670 between the 2-2.5 mile points This list only includes routes that are maintained by the state, and not city and county roadways.

Much of the state has been affected by the rain and flood, with Western Kentucky receiving the most rain last week. As of Tuesday morning, there were four fatalities statewide; 2,614 were still without power; 868 were without water; 4,000 customers were under boil water advisories; one water system was offline and 22 systems were under limited operations.

Also as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, 457 state roadways were closed, 440 by high water and 17 by mudslides and rockslides. More than half of these are in Western Kentucky and many more county and local routes are flooded.