Heavy weekend rains bring overnight flooding in Corbin

This home on Fifth Street is one of several damaged by high water overnight. Water in this photo completely covers the street.

Steady, soaking rains Saturday and most of the day Sunday set the stage for flash flooding late early Monday morning in Corbin as saturated ground was unable to handle torrential downpours overnight.

Officials in town were forced to close portions of several roadways, at least temporarily, due to high water. Master Street near Sacred Heart Catholic Church had knee deep water late Sunday night and for some time after midnight on Monday. Though the water there quickly receded, it didn’t so hastily retreat in other parts of town.

Police closed Cumberland Falls Hwy. near I-75 Exit 25 because of high water. Bacon Creek Road near Corbin Nursing Home and Heritage Nursing home was covered in waist high water. Lake Ave, which runs along Bacon Creek, was choked with rainwater and the nearby creek threatened to spill over its banks.

Perhaps hardest hit was a part of Fifth Street near Lee Street. Several homes in that area were taking in water around 12:30 a.m. Monday. One family reported water spilling into the basement of their home and said they were trying to call neighbors to wake them up in case they didn’t know what was going on. Moore’s Branch, which runs parallel to Fifth Street for a stretch, was raging and topped its banks in areas. A large tree trunk in one area of the creek was wedged into a pipe restricting flow and causing water to pool out into the street. Fourth Street near the intersection of that road and Fifth was also closed to through traffic.

The National Weather Service issued warnings in advance of the heavier ran late Sunday predicting flash flooding in areas of Whitley County, including Williamsburg. The News Journal will provide updates as they are available regarding flooding in other portions of the county.

Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Onkst watches water from Moore’s Branch next to Fifth Street in Corbin rush by, nearly topping its banks early Monday.