PIKE, Ky. – Floodwaters rose overnight and into the early morning hours throughout the seven counties in Kentucky's Highway District 12 – Lawrence, Johnson, Martin, Floyd, Knott, Pike, and Letcher – leaving some residents to detour from their usual morning routes.

“Flash flood water can come up and go down fairly quickly,” said Doug Wright, PE, section engineer for Johnson and Lawrence counties. “People should pay close attention to all messages about high water or mudslides, and take an alternate route to be safe. Do not try to drive through water. You can’t tell how deep it is and you can’t tell if there is an undertow that could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Just use common sense and be safe out there.”

Wright said high water signs and road closed signs are posted in most areas. “The water sometimes comes up and goes down fast enough that we don’t have time to get signs out,” he explained. “But sometimes it comes up and stays up for hours. We monitor all state roads in every county continuously and do our best to notify people of the conditions.”

As of 11 o’clock Monday morning, May 4, the following District 12 roads were closed:

 

FLOYD COUNTY

 

Ky. Route 1427      Blocked due to water at m.p. 005-006

Ky. Route 1750      Blocked due to mudslide at m.p. 001-002

 

JOHNSON COUNTY

 

Ky. Route 1100      at East Point blocked due to mud slide

Ky. Route 825        Blocked in multiple areas due to water

 

MARTIN COUNTY

 

Ky. Route 1224      Blocked at Rockhouse due to high water

Ky. Route 40         Blocked at Tomahawk due to high water

Ky. Route 40         Blocked at Warfield due to a mudslide

 

LAWRENCE COUNTY

 

Ky. Route 1690      Blocked at mile point 10-11 due to high water

Ky. Route 2037      Blocked at mile point 3.6 due to high water

Ky. Route 3396      Blocked at mile point 001-002 due to high water