Local officials reported Monday that last week’s flooding impacted 150 homes, 25 businesses and four government buildings following approximately 14 inches of rainfall over five consecutive days.
The government buildings include the Hopkinsville Police Department on North Main Street, the Christian County Jail on West Seventh Street, the Restricted Custody Center at Fifth and Weber streets and the State Regional Driver’s License Office on South Main Street.
The storms began Wednesday, and rain finally subsided Sunday evening. The Mesonet weather site in Hopkinsville recorded 14.09 inches of rain during that period.
Movie theater swamped
One of the businesses hardest hit by the flooding was The Showbox Dinner Theater and Cinemas, Hopkinsville’s five-screen movie theater behind Bradford Square shopping center. The owners said Sunday morning on Facebook that the entire building and the parking lot sustained “massive flooding.”
“We are hoping to be open this Thursday for our new movies coming in,” they announced.
Responding and cleaning up
The response in Hopkinsville and Christian County has been a team effort, Christian County Emergency Manager Randy Graham said in a press release from the city of Hopkinsville.
“From city crews to state and federal resources, we’ve seen great coordination in protecting people and property,” Graham said.
Local, regional and state agencies were involved in the response. Those included Graham’s agency along with police, fire, ambulance crews and rescue teams, swift water rescue, high-axle vehicles and sandbag operations. Officials noted that more than 80 public assets in the city and county were protected with sandbags.
Mayor James R. Knight Jr. added, “We would like to thank every agency, team member and volunteer who has stepped up to help during this crisis. Recovery is still underway, but Hopkinsville is resilient — and we will get through this together.”
Hopkinsville Solid Waste crews have started making rounds in areas that flooded to pick up storm debris.
Residents need to separate debris into two curbside piles, the release states. Those are:
- Furniture and household items — couches, chairs, mattresses, etc.
- Construction debris — wood, carpet, sheetrock, insulation, etc.
Reporting damages
Residents and business owners are also asked to document and report all damages. “This is vital for both local recovery and possible state or federal assistance,” the release states.
Residents can use this link to report damages. Officials advised residents to:
- Take clear, multiple photos of all damage (inside and outside)
- Write down details about what was lost or affected
- Submit everything through the form as soon as possible
Road hazards remain
High-water road signs were in place at these state-maintained routes as of 8 p.m. Monday, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported:
- U.S. 41 between the 2.77-2.88 mile points
- KY 107 between 1-2 mile points
- KY 107 between 8.2-9 mile points
- KY 115 between the 0-1 mile points
- KY 117 between the 0-1.8 mile points (US 41A to Bell Station Rd)
- KY 117 between the 15.8-18.9 mile points
- KY 272 between the 3-6.8 mile points
- KY 272 at the 9.6 mile point
- KY 345 between the 4-7.3 mile points (KY 117 to KY 107)
- KY 345 between the 9.2-10.6 mile points
- KY 400 at 1.3 mile point
- KY 695 between 3.8-4.4 mile points
- KY 695 at the 8.6 mile point
- KY 813 from 0-2 mile points at Hopkins County line
- KY 1296 between the 1.5-2 mile points
- KY 1338 between the 3-4.4 mile points
- KY 1453 between 1.8-2.2 mile points
- KY 1914 at the 2.3 mile point
- KY 3186 at the 0-0.8 mile points
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
