HAZARD, Ky. — Crews are continuing to clean up the city of Hazard after flooding from the Kentucky River because of heavy rains this past weekend.
The North Fork of the Kentucky River remains high, but it continues to recede.
A heavy rush of water continues to flow in the Kentucky River. This past weekend, the river crested, seeping through into the doors of the Hazard Fire Department. Public information officer Josh Smith said it’s one of the worst he’s ever seen.
“It’s kind of hard to see a water line but you can kind of see it there, so that’s probably about two to three feet up,” Smith said.
Smith said it’s the first-time water has gotten inside the building which was built in 1993. Smith is a third-generation firefighter along with his brothers at the department. He said the department avoided taking on any water even during the historic floods in 2022.
“We did not anticipate the river cresting at the station, we did not anticipate the water coming into the station, so it was kind of an on-the-fly situation,” Smith said.
Smith said firefighters were ordered to remove their trucks from the station away from areas that could be flooded on the night of Saturday, Feb. 15.
“So that as other calls come through, we wouldn’t be trapped and isolated,” Smith said.
They grabbed what they could and left the rest behind. A substantial loss.
“We don’t have a grand total of what all we lost and what all can be salvaged, but some of our firefighting gear has been displaced, some of our water rescue gear was damaged during the efforts,” Smith said.
As the city continues to clean up, FEMA crews with Ohio Task Force 1, many firefighters or retired firefighters, are using the city as its home base. Nearly 50 people from the task force are performing water rescues by boat in nearby Martin County. They were assisting the Army National Guard, Kentucky State Police and other agencies.
Kevin Ganger, the team manager with Ohio Task Force 1, said with the snow and colder temperatures, the work is crucial.
“If they have no power, have no running water, have no supplies if it’s been washed out and they have no access in or out of their homes, it’s the only way to get them out sometimes,” Ganger said.
Their trucks are stock full of everything the task force needs for search and rescue, including floatation devices, bottled water and ready to eat meals.
“Basically, all the extra rescue equipment, logistics equipment, search equipment; anything they need to do their jobs,” Ganger said.
The Hazard Fire Department said it has received aid from departments across the Commonwealth, including the Lexington Fire Department, Scott County Fire and Versailles Fire Department.
Ohio Task Force 1 said they’re unsure how long they’ll be in the area, but they are here to help as long as local crews need the extra set of hands. The public information officer for the task force said they usually pack enough supplies for 14 days.
