PRESTONSBURG, Ky. — Two community meetings to discuss flood relief preparation and planning that were cancelled following last week’s winter storm have been rescheduled.

These meetings are intended give residents a chance to share their experiences, ideas and local knowledge to assist in planning for future flooding and emergencies in Floyd County. Information gathered during the meetings will be used to identify safe places to go during emergencies, medical support, food and water resources, transporation access, shelter options and communications access.

Three meetings were originally scheduled. The first took place in Prestonsburg prior to the winter storm.

The remaining meetings will take place as follows:

• Feb. 18, Floyd County Library Eastern Branch, from noon until 2 p.m.
• Feb. 19, McDowell First Baptist Church, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Organizers are asking adults age 18 and over who live or work in Floyd County to attend the meetings, although there will be an activity for children during the Eastern meeting.

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JENKINS, Ky. — The City of Jenkins is inviting residents to take part in shaping its upcoming stormwater and flood-mitigation plan.

City officials will hold a community meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Jenkins City Hall. The event will include a short presentation at 6:15, followed by open-house stations where residents can view maps, learn about proposed drainage improvements, and share feedback directly with engineers and city staff.
The $5.2 million project aims to reduce flooding risks, improve storm drainage, and protect city infrastructure during severe weather. It builds on Jenkins’ ongoing efforts to monitor stream levels and strengthen resilience after repeated flooding in recent years.

Residents are encouraged to attend, share information about flooding trouble spots, and suggest areas needing maintenance or upgrades.

Those unable to attend can submit written comments by email to cityofjenkins@gmail.com by Oct. 31, or watch a recording later on the city’s website at cityofjenkins.org.

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The Pike County home buyout program for frequently flooded areas is moving ahead rather quickly.

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Quick thinking lead two road crew workers to save multiple lives during flooding disaster

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Pike officials are discussing the benefits of better local water rescue options.

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The Small Business Administration will be holding recovery resource fairs in Hazard and Pikeville on Wednesday, April 9, and Thursday, April 10, respectively.

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson discussed the dangers of driving during flooding.

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Eastern Kentucky can expect 1-3 inches of rain; flooding highly unlikely.

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UPDATE: At 9 p.m., the National Weather Service revised its estimates for river levels once again, this time placing all cities in the region in at least minor flood status.

It is important to note that the estimates are for river flooding only, not for flash flooding, which has been severe in many areas of Eastern Kentucky, covering roads, damaging many structures and sending first responders out to rescue countless people trapped by rising water.

MODERATE FLOODING

Pikeville has now joined Paintsville as the only two communities currently projected to be in moderate flood status. The WPS defines moderate flooding as “Some inundation of structures and roads near streams.”

Pikeville has already reached minor flood and is expected to crest at 43.4 feet around 7 a.m., Sunday. That places it 1.4 feet above moderate flood stage, but still well shy of major flood status, which is 50 feet.

Paintsville is expected to crest at 40.5 feet at 7 p.m., Sunday, and remain there for six hours. That level which is 2.5 feet above moderate level, but still 1.5 feet short of major flooding.

MINOR FLOODING

The rest of the region is currently projected to reach minor flood status, with Prestonsburg the last city to make that list. Prestonsburg is expected to crest at 40.4 feet around 1 p.m., Sunday — just five inches above minor flood level. The river is expected to remain around that same level until around 7 p.m.

Kermit is now expected to flirt with moderate status, reaching a crest of 44.6 feet around 1 a.m., Monday, just five inches shy of moderate flood status.

Williamson is expected to see river levels reach 40 feet at 1 p.m., Sunday, and stay there until 7 p.m. That is 2.7 feet below moderate flooding.

Elkhorn City was initially projected to reach 21 feet, which is the level where minor flooding begins. The current model does not show it reaching that level, but there is a gap in the graph. The Russell Fork was at 19.65 feet at 8:30 p.m.

Copies of river projections follow:

ORIGINAL STORY: PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Saturday’s rain has been somewhat heavier than had been expected 24 hours earlier, leading the National Weather Service to increase its estimates for river levels over the next 48 hours.

As a result, the NWS’s Water Prediction Service now places Pikeville in the minor flood category and raises expected levels around the region. However, as had been forecast earlier, no towns in the Big Sandy region are expected to receive major flooding.

It is important to note that the estimates are for river flooding only, not for flash flooding, which has been severe in many areas of Eastern Kentucky, covering roads, damaging many structures and sending first responders out to rescue countless people trapped by rising water.

MODERATE FLOODING

Only one community in the Big Sandy Valley is currently expected to see water levels rise into the moderate category. The WPS defines moderate flooding as “Some inundation of structures and roads near streams.”

Paintsville is expected to see river levels rise to moderate flooding levels around 1 p.m., Sunday, and crest at 39.5 feet at 1 a.m., Monday, which is 1.5 feet above moderate level, but still 2.5 feet short of major flooding.

MINOR FLOODING

Many communities around the region are expected to see river levels rise to the minor flooding level. The WPS defines minor flooding as, “Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat.”

Pikeville is now expected to see river levels rise to 39.9 feet at 7 a.m., Sunday, which is nearly five feet above minor flooding, but two feet short of major flooding.

Elkhorn City is expected to see river levels reach 21 feet at 1 a.m., Sunday, which is the level considered to be when minor flooding begins, while moderate flooding begins at 22 feet.

Williamson is expected to see river levels reach 31 feet at 7 p.m., Sunday, which is four feet over minor flooding but one foot short of moderate flooding.

Kermit is expected to see river levels reach 41.5 feet at 7 p.m., Sunday, which is 3.5 feet above minor flooding and 3.5 feet below moderate flooding. Unlike most areas, which can expect water levels to begin dropping shortly after cresting, the water levels are expected to remain at about the same level for 12 hours.

ACTION STAGE

Prestonsburg is the only community in the region currently not expected to reach flood stage, but only by about three or four inches. The river is expected to crest at 39.7 feet at 7 p.m., Sunday, just 0.3 feet short of minor flooding stage.

Water levels are expected to reach the “action stage” in Prestonsburg, which is the WPS’s lowest category and is defined as, “The level which, when reached by a rising stream, represents the level where the NWS or a customer/partner needs to take some type of mitigation action in preparation for possible significant hydrologic activity.”

FULL FORECASTS

Copies of the full reports for each community follow:

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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — After having already helped to collect more than $2 million to help victims of flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee, Food City is now working to raise even more with a concert this week.

“Mountain Aid: A Night of Music and Hope for Appalachia” will take place this Thursday at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tenn. When announced, the lineup included eight performers, but that number has continued to grow.

Tickets for the concert are $20, and all proceeds from the event will be donated to Samaritan’s Purse, a Christian relief organization that is working to rebuild homes and provide other types of assistance for flood victims in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. on Thursday, with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Back on Nov. 1, Food City presented checks totaling more than $2.1 million to United Way groups in Virginia and Tennessee. The money was raised through donations by Food City and area businesses, groups and individuals, as well as a 12-day drive to collect donations from customers at checkout.

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