Late on the night of May 3rd into the early morning hours of May 4th, an area of thunderstorms caused flooding in more than 20 counties around eastern Kentucky.
For this flooding and additional flooding that occurred in eastern Kentucky from a heavy rainfall event on May 8-9, 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 FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:22:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRESTONSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Water 2 to 2 1/2 feet deep was across Highway 1427. A water rescue was required after a motorist drove into the high water.

Flash Flood in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 04:30:00 to 04-MAY-09 07:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: LEROSE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

A personal property bridge was washed away by flood waters.

Flood in ROCKCASTLE, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 07:29:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MT VERNON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was across Highway 1505 between mile markers 7 and 8.

Flood in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:20:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLIAMSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was across LIttle Wolfe Creek Road.

Flood in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:50:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: DISNMAN SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Several locations on Highway 6 were under water. California Holler was impassable.

Flash Flood in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 03:15:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: BAILEYS SWITCH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Kentucky 229 was closed at Horse Hollow Road. Other roads closed in the county include Wilton School Road at Old Mosely Road, Rappier Hollow Road, Wilson Branch Road, Dowis Chapel Road, and Wilton School Road at Chapel Grove Church.

Flash Flood in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 01:51:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: CARVER
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Highway 1635 was closed due to flood waters at Oakley. Numerous other roads throughout the county also were covered with high water.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:12:00 to 04-MAY-09 08:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: BONANZA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Abbott Creek was causing flash flooding in Bonanza. Water was also knee deep and flooding a car in Bonanza.

Flash Flood in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:22:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SALYERSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous roads were closed countywide due to flood waters including Falcon Road, Route 7, Miller Fork at Bear Branch, Burning fork, and Mash Fork.

Flood in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 03:29:00 to 04-MAY-09 08:29:00 (EST-5)
Location: ISLAND CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Water was over the road at the intersection of Highways 1350 and 1503. Water was also in the parking lot and inside Tom Callahan Grocery. Water was across Hutchins Fork Road for nearly a mile.

Flash Flood in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:22:00 to 04-MAY-09 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ISLAND CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous roads were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood in MAGOFFIN, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 04:00:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: SALYERSVILLE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Water was running over Route 40 east and numerous other roads and was also in the city park.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 06:20:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRESTONSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Low lying areas around Middle Creek are flooded between mile markers 7 and 10. A few mobile homes are surrounded and roadways are covered in low spots.

Flash Flood in CLAY, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 00:35:00 to 04-MAY-09 07:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: BURNING SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Highway 1350 in Burning Springs was flooded.

Flash Flood in LAUREL, KENTUCKY
From 03-MAY-09 23:35:00 to 04-MAY-09 05:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: LONDON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Numerous streets were closed in the city of London due to flash flooding.

Flash Flood in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 03-MAY-09 23:36:00 to 04-MAY-09 05:36:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILLIAMSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A public report of flash flooding in Williamsburg was confirmed by law enforecement although the extent of the flooding was not known.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 07:30:00 to 04-MAY-09 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BONANZA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A tree and mud slid onto the road due to a mudslide on Route 1750 between Bonanza and Hagar Hill.

Flash Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 01:10:00 to 04-MAY-09 03:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: CANOE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Water was over Canoe Road in the town of Canoe.

Flash Flood in JACKSON, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 06:22:00 to 04-MAY-09 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: DEESE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Water was across Highway 290 at Highway 30.

Heavy Rain in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 03-MAY-09 23:27:00 to 04-MAY-09 03:01:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINE KNOT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

County dispatch reported water flowing onto Hwy 92 in places, but not enough to close the road.

Flash Flood in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 03-MAY-09 23:35:00 to 04-MAY-09 05:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: BARK CAMP
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Bee Creek Road was flooded and closed; water had made it up to the front porch steps of one home near the creek. Law enforcement reported at 115 am the evacuation of one residence in Bee Creek with flash flooding reported at several locations between Williamsburg and Corbin including the Kensey Hollow and Little Wolf Creek areas.

Flash Flood in WHITLEY, KENTUCKY
From 03-MAY-09 23:27:00 to 04-MAY-09 05:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: CORBIN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Corbin dispatch reported that a roadway was closed at Roy Kidd Depot at the underpass due to high water.

Flash Flood in OWSLEY, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 01:35:00 to 04-MAY-09 05:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: ISLAND CITY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

A coop observer measured 2.68 inches of rainfall in Island City. Highway 1350 in the Holly Fork area of Island City was flooded.

Flash Flood in BREATHITT, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 01:10:00 to 04-MAY-09 04:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: ELKATAWA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flood waters covered Highway 52 and ran into a yard.

Flash Flood in KNOX, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 01:25:00 to 04-MAY-09 10:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: GRAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Flash flooding reported in Gray and Dowis Chapel road closed by flood waters.

Heavy Rain in MCCREARY, KENTUCKY
From 03-MAY-09 17:20:00 to 03-MAY-09 21:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: PINE KNOT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several creeks in southeast McCreary county, including Hayes Creek and Osborne Creek, were reported to be rising out of their banks, some running close to the bottom of bridges.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 04:35:00 to 04-MAY-09 07:35:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRESTONSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Some stuctural and crop damage is visible. Low lying areas along the creek are flooding between mile markers 6 and 10. The creek is receding upstream of the elementary school. Water is up to and into the basements and possibly lowest levels of a few homes and businesses adjacent to Middle Creek in the community along Clark Drive on KY 114.

Flood in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 15:20:00 to 04-MAY-09 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: IRVINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Dark Hollow Road was closed due to flooding.

Flood in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 15:20:00 to 04-MAY-09 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: WISEMANTOWN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Red Lick Road is closed due to flooding.

Flood in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 15:20:00 to 04-MAY-09 19:20:00 (EST-5)
Location: IRVINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Millers Creek Road was closed due to flooding.

Flood in ESTILL, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 16:21:00 to 04-MAY-09 20:21:00 (EST-5)
Location: IRVINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

The county emergency manager reported that several roads were closed due to flooding. These include state Highway 1571, State Highway 3328, Dark Hollow Road, Nolands Creek Road, and Driftwood Drive.

Flash Flood in FLOYD, KENTUCKY
From 04-MAY-09 02:15:00 to 04-MAY-09 05:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: PRESTONSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Low lying areas along the creek were flooding and likely the highest since 2004. The south end of an apartment building was threatened by flood waters about 5 miles west of Prestonsburg. Vehicles in that part of the parking lot had to be moved. Flood water appeared to be up to the level of the Granny Fritz Branch Road bridge over Middle Creek. Flood water was beginning to surround a mobile home on a permanent foundation on the south side of KY 114 near the western intersection of West Old Middle Creek Road with KY 114.