Floodwaters turn downtown Beattyville into a river, forcing evacuations

Officials evacuate Beattyville as flooding causes severe damage

EE COUNTY, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Rescue crews in Lee County are working  to assist residents impacted by severe flooding, with residents evacuated as water levels surged Sunday night.

Downtown Beattyville has turned into a river, with E. Main Street completely submerged and multiple roads closed.

“As the water started coming up yesterday [Sunday] , we could tell it was coming at a rate that was faster than predicted, and faster than we wanted,” said Tyler Phillips of Lee County Search and Rescue.

Evacuations proved successful, as no injuries have been reported. A handful of residents needed assistance leaving their homes, but the town is now focused on recovery efforts.

Phillips, a Beattyville native, said he’s never seen flooding like this in his lifetime.

“Never thought I’d see this in my lifetime, I thought it was black and white photos I’d look at from the 50’s,” Phillips said.

Officials say the recovery process may take weeks, with some areas potentially requiring longer to return to normalcy.

“We’re looking at weeks before everything is back to normal, and for some places, it might be longer than that,” Phillips said.

Rescue crews are also braving wintry conditions, which Phillips described as “miserable.”

“Being out in the water in this type of temperature, you just can’t warm back up, you can’t get dry. Your fingers get cold and don’t move well. It’s unsafe and it’s just miserable for anyone out here,” said Phillips.

County officials say water levels are no longer rising, but standing water continues to affect homes and businesses in Beattyville.