Flooding in Kentucky, March 1 to 11, 1997

Record rainfall amounts from late evening Friday February 28 to the morning of Sunday March 2 lead to major flooding along the Salt River basin including the Rolling Fork. The Salt River at Sheperdsville reached the 32 foot flood stage just after 1 am est Sunday March 2 and crested at 40.9 feet at 1 pm est on Monday March 3. This was the worst flooding here since March 1964. The Rolling Fork at Boston reached the 35 foot flood stage at 11 pm est Saturday March 1 and crested at a record level of 53.2 feet at 1 pm est Monday March 3. This major flooding caused the most of the towns of Boston, Lebanon Junction and Sheperdsville to be underwater with water up to the rooftops in spots. Downtown Sheperdsville was 90 percent under water and forced 1,000 people to be evacuated by boat. New Haven was also mostly under water. The town of West Point in northern Hardin county was also buried under water to the roof tops in many spots due to the effects of both the Salt River and the Ohio River as West Point is located at the confluence of the Ohio and Salt Rivers. Damage estimates for Hardin county include flooding attributed to the Ohio River. All these towns were evacuated. All these counties were eligible for federal disaster aid. The damage includes the flooding and flash flooding of March 1 through March 2.