Flash Flood in Carter County, Kentucky

Streams such as Tygart Creek, Little and Big Sinking Creeks, Henderson Branch, Smith Run, and Mills Branch saw major flash flooding. A 72 year old woman drowned. Her mobile home was washed off its foundation and pushed some 200 yards to a bridge. The home broke into pieces at the bridge. Her body was not found until 3 days later near the mouth of the creek with the Little Sandy River. Downtown Olive Hill was flooded again. The crest was about a foot in downtown, compared to 4 to 5 feet during the flood in May. Nineteen homes were destroyed in the county with major damage to 60 to 70 others. Most of the damage was concentrated in the Grahn and Fultz vicinity. Around a half dozen vehicles were washed into Little Sinking Creek. Several private and a few public bridges were destroyed. ||Governor Steve Beshear declared a state of emergency. Carter County was included in the FEMA disaster declaration number 1925.

Localized downpours of 2 inches flooded roads around Hitchins. Three spelunkers were in one of the caves around Carter Caves. They were walking in a underground stream, heading toward a cave exit. They were about 20 feet from the exit, when a 4 to 5 foot surge of water entered the cave. The first hiker, a 23 year old man, was knocked down and carried back into the cave. His body was later recovered about 300 feet back into the cave.

Significant flash flooding occurred in multiple spots across the county. Some of the first reports came from Carter Caves State Park where James Branch began flooding after 1.5 inches of rain in just over an hour. At the Carter County Fairgrounds, hundreds of folks were gathered for a music festival, many of whom were camping on the grounds. Barrett Creek, which runs next to the fairgrounds flooded, resulting in 139 campers and/or tow vehicles being damaged or totaled. Water rescues were performed, but fortunately there were no flood related injuries or deaths. Three sheriff cruisers were also totaled by the flood waters. Additional flooding occurred in Grayson and Olive Hill, where multiple houses were flooded. There was also flooding along US Route 60 and at the intersection of State Routes 654 and 854 near the Boyd County line.