Updated: 1 person dies after heavy rain causes flooding, high water in several KY counties

One person in Marion County has died as a result of flooding from heavy rain, Marion County Emergency Manager Rebecca Williams said Friday.

Williams said the flooding in Marion County began around 11 a.m. Thursday. Since then there have been four swift-water rescues in Marion County.

Crews responded to a report of a vehicle that had been seen near a bridge over the Rolling Fork River at Bradfordsville, according to Williams. The car was trying to cross an area with water over the road and was swept away.

Rescue squad members and others searched for the vehicle into the evening Thursday but stopped the search due to safety concerns as there were large pieces of debris in the river. Williams said they resumed the search Friday and found the car in a thicket of trees about 300 yards off the road.

Authorities have not yet released information about the person who died.

According to Williams, one driver needed rescuing after driving into high water. Another person needed rescuing after wrecking their vehicle and getting stuck in high water. A third person was in a house when they had a medical emergency, and officials had to use a boat to get the person from the house to an ambulance.

Other parts of eastern and southern Kentucky are experiencing varying levels of flooding as a result of heavy rainfall Thursday into Friday morning.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for specific areas surrounding the North Fork, South Fork, Cumberland, Licking, Red and Kentucky rivers in southeastern Kentucky. The advisory is in effect until at least Friday afternoon.

Graphs from the NWS show water levels at depths that would reflect minor flooding. NWS meteorologist Adam Batz said the NWS has received multiple reports of road closures in various counties but no reports of structural damage due to floods.

A graphic posted by the NWS shows that most of Eastern Kentucky received multiple inches of rain, with some specific areas getting over 3 inches. Lexington received approximately 2.3 inches of rain, according to the NWS.

Task force helps Marion County crews

Crews with the Lexington Fire Department departed for Marion County Friday morning to assist with a search and rescue mission in Marion County, according to Maj. Derek Roberts with the fire department. The crews were a part of a task force along with the Campbellsville, Scott County, Georgetown, Versailles, Shepherdsville and Frankfort fire departments.

The Marion County Emergency Management Center reported several road closures in the county. Marion County Public Schools canceled classes Friday due to dangerous road conditions.

In Letcher County, some temporary bridges built after last summer’s fatal floods were knocked down, according to the Mountain Eagle. Kim Stewart with the Letcher County road department said a number of roads have flooded and washed out, but she had not received any reports of homes flooded.

Drivers stranded in Bell County

In Bell County, a Kentucky Utilities truck was stranded after water levels rose on Highway 221, according to the Bell County Volunteer Fire Department. The driver had to walk along nearby railroad tracks to safety.

Shortly afterwards the fire department received a report of a coal truck being stranded on the same road. The fire department said water levels rose to the coal truck’s drivers top step, stranding him in the vehicle.

George Smith, the emergency manager in Bell County, told the Herald-Leader several side roads in the county are flooded or washed out. He said he hadn’t received any reports of houses being flooded.

Smith estimates the Cumberland River in the area will crest Friday afternoon. The NWS hydrology graph for the Cumberland River in Pineville showed water levels reaching the minor zone of flooding Friday morning.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 11 reported multiple road closures within its district due to high water.

In the 7th District of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which includes Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Scott and Woodford counties, multiple roads were closed due to flooded roads, particularly in Madison County.

Moderate flooding reported in Estill County

Water levels for the Kentucky River near Ravenna are projected to reach approximately 29 feet, according to graphs from the NWS. Melissa Riddell from Estill County Emergency Management said the county reaches its “action stage” when it starts seeing roads covered at 17 feet.

Many roads in the county are closed due to water but there’s no reports of flooded homes, according to Riddell.

“This is a moderate flood for us,” Riddell said.

Riddell said Estill Count doesn’t usually start seeing major flooding in houses until water levels are approximately 32 feet.