Flood — Pike, Kentucky

2002-05-02 to 2002-05-04 · Pike, Kentucky

Wider weather episode

Heavy rains fell across the Big Sandy and Kentucky River basins, primarily on Thursday, May 2. This resulted in excessive runoff and flooding in four eastern Kentucky counties. At 11 p.m EDT on May 2. in Pike County, a 24 year old man from Freeburn, KY was swept away in river flood water after his vehicle was stranded in the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River at the Vulcan Bridge area on Kentucky Highway 194.At 5 a.m EDT on May 3, the North Fork of the Kentucky River at Booneville, KY in Owsley County went above flood stage of 27 feet, and continued above flood stage until 1 p.m EDT. May 3, with a crest of 27.75 feet.At approximately 6:30 a.m EDT on May 3, reports from Martin County told of water backed up from the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River into Emily Creek and caused three feet of water to inundate Kentucky Highway 292 at Hode, KY. Deep water also occurred over Kentucky Highway 1714 on Wolf Creek Road. Seven to eight feet of water covered Mount Sterling Branch and Long Branch. Three to four feet of water covered Kentucky Highway 400 on Tipple Road, about 3 miles west of Warfield Road.Throughout Floyd County, numerous roads and culverts were damaged on May 3 from rising water from the heavy rains which occurred on May 2. Also, numerous trees were swept away in mud slides. There was one report of a mud slide which swept trees onto a trailer and caused damage and one mud slide caused damage to a business.By 8 a.m EDT. on May 4, all significant flooding had subsided in all areas.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5297291. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.