Some of the worst flooding that residents of Owsley, Breathitt, Floyd, Magoffin and Pike counties could remember took place on May 9th, 2009. A series of severe supercell thunderstorms that moved repeatedly over the same areas were the culprit of the disastrous flooding. The emergency managers of both Breathitt and Pike counties estimated that more than $25 million in damage in each county occurred due to the flooding. An estimated $2 million in damage to roads and personal property occurred in Owsley county due to the flood waters. Major damage also occurred in Floyd county, but detailed information from this county has yet to be obtained. Miraculously, no lives were lost as a result of this catastrophic flood event.
For this flooding and additional flooding that occurred in eastern Kentucky from a  heavy rainfall event on May 3-5, 2009, $18.8 Million of FEMA Individual and Public Assistance Disaster Declaration money was granted to the following counties: Breathitt, Floyd, Magoffin, Owsley and Pike.  FEMA Public Assistance Disaster Declaration was granted to the following counties: Clay, Estill, Jackson, Knott, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher and Perry.

Flash Flood in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 02:15:00 to 09-MAY-09 06:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: VARNEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Streams were going into buildings. The event occurred between 425 am and 440 am.

Flash Flood in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 03:35:00 to 09-MAY-09 05:49:00 (EST-5)
Location: TURKEY CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Streams were entering buildings in Belfry. The event occurred between 434 am and 449 am.

Flood in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 08-MAY-09 22:20:00 to 09-MAY-09 10:44:00 (EST-5)
Location: TURKEY CREEK
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Streams were flowing into buildings in Belfry.

Flash Flood in PIKE, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 00:05:00 to 09-MAY-09 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: HUDDY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Water was running over bridges. Water was also covering mail boxes where Ky Hwy 199 meets U.S. 119. Flooding was also reported near McVeigh.

Flash Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 03:30:00 to 09-MAY-09 06:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: WOLVERINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Six to seven feet of water was covering Ky Hwy 30. Two single wide trailers were seen floating by. One double wide was in the middle of the flood waters and rescuers were having difficulty reaching the occupants. Highway 30 W was closed near the detention center.

Flood in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 00:10:00 to 09-MAY-09 07:41:00 (EST-5)
Location: FOX
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The Kentucky River rising to moderate flood stage. State roads 1571 and 3328 were closed. Driftwood Avenue, Jacks Heavenly Highway, Nolands Creek Road, and Dark Hollow Road were all closed in the city.

Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 02:30:00 to 09-MAY-09 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROUSSEAU
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Two feet of flood water from Quicksand Creek was over Hwy 30 near the Highway 30 and Wolf Creek Road intersection.

Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 12:30:00 to 09-MAY-09 16:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: NOCTOR
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Three to four feet of water covered the intersection of Hwys 30 and 2436.

Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 03:20:00 to 09-MAY-09 10:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAYS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Flood water was up to the top of the lockers in Rousseau Elementary School. Water was also in homes near the school as well as a grocery store. The Breathitt County Office of Emergency Management reported that both the school and grocery store were total losses.

Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 03:25:00 to 09-MAY-09 10:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: DOTSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Around two feet of flowing water was over KY Hwy 404 at the intersection of KY Hwy 404 and Blue River Branch. A mobile home to the east of Hwy 404 was completely surrounded by water and had water underneath it.

Flood in LEE, KENTUCKY
From 09-MAY-09 03:00:00 to 09-MAY-09 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FIXER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A 40 to 50 foot section of one lane of Hwy 498 collapsed and dropped over the embankment next to the roadway resulting in the closure of the road.