Heavy storms bring torrential rain, damaging winds to parts of county

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Thursday, June 27, 2013, 1 a.m. — While Nelson County EMS ambulances routinely save lives by transporting the sick and injured to hospitals for treatment, a quick-thinking EMS crew may have saved lives Wednesday night in the wake of torrential rains that passed through the area.

A Nelson County EMS squad was returning to Bardstown from a trip to the Chaplin area when they found water covering US62 just outside Bloomfield in the stretch of road known to locals as “the S curves.” Not only did they find high water rushing over the road in the S curves, but they spotted a passenger car stranded on a high spot of the roadway that was not yet covered with water. The water had risen too high for the car to continue or turn back.

The EMT radioed EMS and advised the shift leader of the situation, and that he believed the EMS ambulance could drive up to their car and take the family inside to safety. The shift leader advised caution, but to use judgment regarding the move. The ambulance traversed the water, took aboard the two adults and a six-month-old infant, and then carried them to safety.

Crews from the Northeast Nelson Fire Department were called to block the road, including Springfield Road (KY55) at US62 which was also covered by water.

FLASH FLOODING CLOSES ROADWAYS. The torrential rains caused flash flooding conditions across much of Nelson County Wednesday night. The National Weather Service reports as much as 3 inches of rain or more fell across portions of the county.

The rains overwhelmed the storm drains on some Bardstown streets, including North Third Street between Forrest Avenue and the John Rowan intersection, flooding the roads until the water levels receded. Woodlawn Road at American Drive was covered by more than 2 feet of water just after midnight Wednesday.

Southern parts of Nelson County reported significant wind damage, including trees blocking US31E south of New Haven, as well as blocking Leonard Hall Road, and utility lines down along Dee Head Road. New Haven reported multiple tree limbs and some utility lines down in the wake of the storm. Power was out over portions of southern and central Nelson County.

Emergency management Director Joe Prewitt and police surveyed southern parts of the county for damage, downed utility lines and poles, flash flooding and downed trees.

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