CARROLLTON, Ky. — The Ohio and Kentucky Rivers have finally crested near Carrollton. Water levels remain high in the area.
Many homes in Carrollton are still surrounded by water.
“It’s a mess,” Michael Russell, rental homeowner, said.
The only way to Russell’s rental home is by boat because of the severe flooding.
“It’s an inconvenience, obviously. You got to park out here and paddle your way in, but it is what it is,” he said.
Russell said this is the highest he has seen the river in the 15 years he has been renting out the property.
“There’s nothing like sitting out and watching the water. I enjoy that. My son enjoys it; but, unfortunately, you have situations like this,” Russell said.
The house itself is avoiding the flood water, but the community near Greens Bottom Road will need some restoration.
“We’ll have debris that we’ll have to clean up, and you can see a lot of it right here starting to gather as the water goes down,” he said.
The Carrollton Police Department said the number of people staying at a shelter peaked at over 260 people. As of Wednesday, April 9, there are just under 100 people at the shelter.
“Those folks that are going back are the ones that had evacuated thinking that it would get in their home, but it didn’t. So, they’re safe to go back,” Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams said.
Adams said the city’s emergency operations center is transitioning its focus from evacuations to recovery and rebuilding.
“What that looks like for us is getting boots on the ground and crews there to see how many homes that were, how much water was in them. What are their needs?” Adams said.
A waterline on trees and homes showed Kentucky River has gone down several inches, but there is still a long way to go.
“Unfortunately, it takes time. I’d like to see it gone tomorrow, but that’s not going to happen,” Russell said.
It’s all part of living on the river, Russell said.
Carrollton is collecting cleaning supplies, shovels, masks and other items for flood victims.
Donations can be dropped off at the county road department on Park Avenue.
Items will be distributed to pod locations across the county where people in need can pick them up.
