Storms blast county with torrential rain, high wind, severe lightning
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette
This radar screen capture shows one of Thursday’s severe’s storms that blasted the county with high winds, heavy rain and substantial lightning.
Thursday, July 19, 20122, 11 p.m. — Thursday evening’s intense thunderstorms that passed through the county brought with them heavy lightning that is believed responsible for several fires and power outages.
HOBBS LANE. At 9:18 p.m. Thursday, the Bardstown Fire Department responded to a reported tree on fire in the 1100 block of Hobbs Lane. The tree was reportedly near a structure. Firefighters had the fire extinguished and were preparing to clear the scene when they were called to another fire.
PREAKNESS DRIVE. At just past 10 p.m. Thursday, Bardstown firefighters were called to respond to a fire at a home in the 100 block of Preakness Drive off Louisville Road north of Cox’s Creek. Occupants believed the home was struck by lightning as a storm passed overhead, starting a smoldering fire in the home’s attic. Firefighters entered the attic to extinguish the fire.
Thursday’s severe thunderstorms marked the second Preakness Drive home struck by lightning in as many days. The Bardstown Fire Department responded Wednesday night about 9 p.m. to a home in the 300 block of Preakness Drive that also experienced a lightning strike.
POWER PROBLEMS. The severe storms knocked power to an undetermined number of Salt River Electric customers in Nelson and Bullitt counties. At this writing, Salt River Electric crews are still at work restoring power throughout their service area.
The storms knocked out power to the communications tower on Old Bloomfield Road that serves Nelson County EMS and other county agencies, forcing ambulances in the southern part of the county to use the Rolling Fork Fire Department frequency to communicate with Nelson County Dispatch. At this writing, the communications tower is operating under emergency generator power until commercial power is restored.
OTHER WEATHER-RELATED INCIDENTS. The weather triggered the fire alarm system at the Nelson County Early Learning Center, 1200 Cardinal Drive in Bardstown at about 8 p.m. Firefighters checked the building and found water dripping around one of the detectors. The alarm was reset without problem.
At 8:11 p.m., firefighters were called to a home near 142 Abbey Ridge in Nazareth Farms subdivision for an electrical transformer on fire. Firefighters stayed on scene for about an hour until a power company representative arrived.
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