(WSMV/WKYT) – A family was left trapped in their Cumberland County home after flash floods washed out a bridge on the only route in or out of their property.
Flash floods across the state have killed at least four people in Kentucky and damaged thousands of homes.
A Flash Flood Emergency was issued for Cumberland County Sunday morning and lasted until 11:15 a.m.
Officials in Cumberland County have not received any reports of injuries or fatalities, but say there is extensive damage across the area with several roadways washed away and homes flooded.
Nickie and Jennifer Richards say they’ve lived through flooding before, but this was the highest they’ve ever seen the water rise in the creek outside their home.
“It even got up further down in our field there,” Jennifer said. “We’ve never seen it that high, and we actually had some mudslides behind the house that came pretty close.”
They say the rushing water hit its crest around 11 a.m. and was several feet above the bridge that crosses over the creek to get to their home.
The flood washed away the road on either side and left a pile of debris on the bridge blocking their only way out.
“We actually lost our first bridge in 2010,” Nickie said. “But this here, it stayed up probably about 2-3 hours. I’ve never seen it stay up this long. It still amazes you, that much water in that little time.”
But the Richards’ were still in good spirits as they worked to clear the bridge in the sweltering heat. They say they’re just happy the water didn’t flood their home or take any lives in Cumberland County.
“Everybody’s helping everybody in the community right now, as to be expected with where we live,” Nickie said. “I just want to say, you know, there’s been loss of life during all this in Kentucky. Our hearts go out to them.”