Flash Flood in Henderson County, Kentucky

Widespread flash flooding inundated numerous homes and businesses. County officials estimated 3.5 million dollars in damage occurred to homes, and 14 million dollars in damage to commercial and government property. Many roads were closed or under several feet of water. Numerous people were evacuated and removed from subdivisions in the city of Henderson, including the Cooper Park and Lakeland neighborhoods. Water was up to the window sills on some homes. An industrial area was flooded by Canoe Creek, with three to four feet of water in at least two manufacturing plants. A portion of the Eastgate Shopping Center was submerged, closing several businesses. Throughout the county, a number of water rescues were conducted for people stranded in flooded vehicles. Flooding shut down U.S. Highway 41 South within the Henderson city limits. About 100 county-maintained roads were flooded, and two bridges were washed out. More than 15 miles of state-maintained roads were closed. Schools were closed. 6.80 inches of rain was measured by a spotter from overnight thunderstorms in Spottsville. In Henderson, a spotter reported 5.6 inches, with 1.69 inches falling in one hour. In Zion, the unofficial total for the morning storms was 5.8 inches.

A narrow band of thunderstorms became stationary from west to east across Union and Henderson Counties. The storms were anchored there by a warm front that stalled during the night. Rainfall amounts under this band of thunderstorms were from 5 to 10 inches. The co-operative observer in Henderson measured a record 8.51 inches in 24 hours. The previous 24-hour record was 6.33 inches on March 11, 1935.