Heavy rainfall, flooding keep first responder busy overnight

Heavy rainfall Thursday evening and throughout the night left many areas with the threat of rising water, which kept local first responders busy. Despite the handful of incidents, however, no injuries have been reported.

Whitley County Emergency Management Director Danny Moses said that at approximately 3:15 a.m. Friday Woodbine Fire and Rescue and Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department responded to Freeman Hollow Road in Williamsburg due to high water that was encroaching into homes along that road. A crew with Pleasant View VFD had to use a boat to rescue residents who were stranded due to flooding. Moses said about 12 people were rescued during that call.

Additionally, Moses noted that several roadways are currently under water and “totally unpassable.” As of Friday afternoon, Moses advised motorists to stay away from KY1804 and Wolf Creek River Road. Even with the rain having mostly subsided, road conditions can change fairly quickly.

“I went through 1804 about 6:30 this morning and it was fine, but a couple hours later it was underwater. And it’s pretty deep,” said Moses.

In Corbin, crews were just as busy. Corbin Fire Department Battalion Chief Chad Jackson said that the fired department responded to several calls related to the rain and flooding.

CFD worked one traffic accident on I-75 near the 28-mile marker in which a vehicle hit standing water, hydroplaned and left the roadway. Jackson said only one vehicle was involved and no injuries were reported.

The bulk of the CFD’s calls concerned Master Street, which became heavily flooded. Jackson said the worst areas were in front of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and in front of Sav-Rite Pharmacy at Standard Avenue. Much of the work along Master Street was preventing thru traffic, though Jackson said one vehicle that did come through misjudged the roadway and went into a culvert, causing the vehicle to be partially submerged.

“We had one rescuer go in and help walk them out of the high water,” said Jackson.

The motorist was not injured, according to Jackson.