Flooding in Kentucky, March 20 to 21, 2002

Light rain moved into northeast Kentucky during the predawn hours of the 19th. Light to moderate rainfall fell during the 19th, as a warm front tired to lift north from the Tennessee Valley. The heaviest rains occurred from 0100 to 0800E on the 20th, ahead of the low pressure wave on the strong frontal boundary. Rains then diminished during the morning of the 20th. Rain totals from the 30 hour event were 2.5 to 4.5 inches, with roughly 60% of the total occurring in about 6 hours on the 20th. The axis of the heaviest rain was generally along the Interstate 64 corridor, from Olive Hill to Ashland. Rain totals included 4.5 inches from Ashland, 4.3 inches from Carter Caves, 4.2 inches from Grayson, and 3.7 inches from Warnock. Automated gauges showed around 4.3 inches at Cannonsburg of Boyd County. Automated gauges from Potato Knob and Sinking Creek in Carter County indicated 4.1 inches. In Greenup County, Culp Creek measured 3.6 inches, while the Greenup EOC had 3.3 inches. Lawrence County received the lower limit of rain. Charlie reported 2.7 inches of rain. Widespread small stream, poor drainage, and urban flooding occurred during the morning hours of the 20th. Many people were stranded as roads became flooded. River flooding along the Little Sandy River occurred later in the day. The office of emergency management director in Carter County said, "it's devastation all over the county." Olive Hill, Norton Branch, and Hitchens were hardest hit. The headwaters of Tygarts Creek flooded at least two-thirds of the city buildings in Olive Hill. The fire station saw almost 2 feet of water inside. Residents called it the highest water since the 1937 flood,. On Norton Branch, a unoccupied mobile home was carried off and became wedged under an old railroad trestle. The Little Sandy River crested at Grayson around 2300E on the 20th at 29.2 feet. Flood stage is 21 feet. Preliminary damage assessment indicated 2 mobile homes were destroyed in Carter County. Three single family homes and 2 mobile homes had major damage. One county bridge was destroyed. Damage estimated to public structures, such as roads, were around $400,000. In Boyd County, houses and trailers along Shopes Creek were surrounded by water. Rescue workers evacuated families by boat. Flooded basements and streets were widespread in Ashland and Westwood. Preliminary damage assessment in Boyd County indicated 1 single family home and 2 mobile homes were destroyed. Twenty-five single family homes and 4 mobile homes had major damage. Estimates for public assistance, mainly for road damage and debris removal, was on the order of $250,000. Most of the water problems in Greenup County were along Tygarts Creek and the Little Sandy River. This affected homes, bridges, and Routes 2, 7 and 1. Tygarts Creek crested at the base of the covered bridge at Bennett's Mill. Repairs to road slippage in Greenup County were estimated at $400,000. Preliminary damage assessment indicated 2 mobile homes were destroyed in Greenup County. Four single family homes and 5 mobile homes had major damage. In Lawrence County, precautionary evacuations were along Cat Fork, west of Fallsburg. State officials estimated about $240,000 damage for bridge repair and debris removal in the county. No homes were affected. After local emergencies were declared, Governor Patton requested federal assistance from President Bush. On the 4th of April, the 4 northeast Kentucky counties were included in FEMA disaster declaration 1407. This provided both individual and public assistance.