A state of emergency was declared after heavy rain on Saturday led to flash flooding and river flooding all across Bell County.

Road closures reported included:

• KY 2013 at mile point 1.9
• KY 1534 at mile points 0-5.8 (Page Cutoff Community)
• KY 2015 at mile points 0.7-2.8
• KY 92 at mile point 0.4
• KY 2014 at mile point 0.5
• KY 2394 at mile points 0-0.6
• KY 66 at mile point 0-2
• KY 3085 mile points 0-2
• KY 1344 at mile points 4.6-4.9
• KY 3085 at mile points 0-2
• KY 1344 at mile points 4.6-4.9
• KY 66 at mile point 17

While the gates in Pineville’s flood wall didn’t have to be closed, the Cumberland River crested causing what Mayor Shawn Fugate II called the fourth largest flood ever recorded in that city.

“I believe this will go down as the fourth largest flood we have recorded in Pineville. Not a record I was looking at breaking my first six weeks in office. Couldn’t have done anything without the crew we have from every department, some of them still out working. Stay safe out there, stay off the roads unless necessary,” he said on Sunday night after the river had crested. “We are still keeping an eye on things but we can all breathe a little easier. We have an unbelievable crew that works behind the scenes making sure we are all safe, a lot of them without sleep for the last 48 hours. Utilities, Police, Fire, Street Dept. and Housing Authority all stepped up and made my life easier the last couple of days. There are still roads that are closed and you should still stay in unless necessary.”

A state of emergency was also declared in Middlesboro as the large amount of rain that fell in a short time caused the canal to back up for a time Saturday afternoon and evening. Water covered several roads near downtown causing several of them to be closed for some time.

“With the State, counties (including Bell), and cities (including Middlesboro and Pineville) all declaring a state of emergency, we find ourselves in disastrous situations all across the state of Kentucky,” Middlesboro Mayor Boone Bowling shared on a Facebook post Sunday evening. “The water in Middlesboro and Bell County has crested at this time and water levels are expected to continue to drop, please do not risk driving in areas of concern and please stay put until water has completely cleared.”

Bowling shared that the State of North Carolina Emergency Management has sent mutual aid to all of Eastern Kentucky through a Western Carolina Regional Team.

“Winston Salem Search and Rescue, Asheville Search and Rescue, Charlotte Search and Rescue, with additional emergency crews on their way to set up a home base in Middlesboro (for at least Sunday evening) before dispersing throughout the rest of Eastern and potential Central Kentucky,” he said.

About 50 men and women from those emergency crews stayed Sunday night in the Middlesboro Community Center to establish a recon point before going to the rest of the state. The responded to at least one water rescue after a person drove into high water on Highway 92 and became stranded.

“They were here for one night to ensure Bell County safety and then following the heavy water flow as it goes west as well as dispersing north of us to tend to the rest of Eastern Kentucky,” Bowling added. “Middlesboro has been fortunate, but as you know, Eastern Kentucky at the end of the day is one large family and our heart goes out to all those families who have been affected by the devastating flooding.”

If you need help from an emergency response team due to weather impacts, complete the Kentucky Emergency Management need form at https://survey123.arcgis.com/…/aebe49078b9d484bb4db7a11… or call 502-607-6665.

If you have an emergency or life-threatening situation, call 911 immediately.