Hopkinsville declares emergency, greater than 150 houses flood-damaged, awaiting FEMA help

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Waist-deep floodwaters surged via neighborhoods in Hopkinsville over the weekend, leaving houses and companies underwater and forcing dozens of residents to evacuate with little time to react.

Alongside Donna Drive, muddy flooring, soaked furnishings, and debris-strewn lawns now mark the aftermath of the sudden storm.

Melissa Bond was amongst these compelled to flee.

“After which unexpectedly, the rain had already stopped, really,” Bond stated. “And the water nonetheless stored dashing down the highway — nearly like a dam broke.”

Inside an hour, water reached her dwelling.

“We simply took what we may in our backpacks and our pets,” she stated. “And we simply went for a swim and bought out.”

Bond is likely one of the few lucky residents with flood insurance coverage and remains to be capable of reside in her dwelling. However others should not so fortunate.

Close by enterprise proprietor Ben Corridor stated a few of his property was a complete loss, with harm estimated at $20,000.

“It got here down so quick,” Corridor stated. “By the point we bought all our vehicles moved, it was already coming in.”

Corridor stated he remembers a flood in 1997 that dropped barely extra rain — however not with the identical drive.

Mayor J.R. Knight has declared a state of emergency, noting that greater than 150 houses sustained water harm.

“We’ve had over 150 houses that bought water of their ductwork and issues like that, and our heating and cooling programs,” Knight stated.

The town has contacted the Federal Emergency Administration Company and is awaiting phrase on when monetary help could change into out there.

Within the meantime, residents are salvaging what they’ll, cleansing up what’s left, and bracing for what may come subsequent.

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