Quickly rising water forces 30 campers to evacuate campsite in Menifee County

MENIFEE COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ)- About 30 campers had to be evacuated in Menifee County Sunday morning after water rose much quicker than expected.

Red River Adventure owner Ernie Braden says a camper knocked on the site manager’s door at 2:30 a.m. because water was coming into tents.

Braden and his staff waded through waist deep water to get everyone out.

He says the river wasn’t high around 10:30 pm. It took just hours to rise about 20 feet higher than normal.

Braden says he lost about 40 kayaks and several picnic tables in flood water, a hit to his business, which already has only been able to operate for half the normal season because of coronavirus.