The water rose quickly, but so did the heroes

EMERGENCY RESCUE CREWS performed evacuations on Buck Run Road Saturday, April 6. Gloria Gilkison was evacuated from her home on Saturday afternoon after she tried to evacuate but realized the water rose too high. (Photo by Bill Caine)

 

Heavy rain for over five days has changed the lives of many of our neighbors that live near the Kentucky River. Historic flooding showed its ugly head last Friday when the river began pushing its way toward homes in communities like Clifton. 

On Saturday, things hit close to home. A family member on Buck Run Road in Clifton said the water was over the road, and she needed to get out. Because she’s older, she doesn’t move like she once did, and getting her out safely was the most important thing. 

We looked high and low to figure out how to get to her house, as the water on her road was already waist-high. Moments after we arrived, a fantastic team of first responders showed up with a life raft, immediately entered the flood waters, and began the march toward her home, a quarter mile through the flood.  

When I exited my vehicle, I knew getting to her home would be nearly impossible. I’ve driven Buck Run Road hundreds of times and could never have imagined what I saw. This situation was a full-on emergency, and the first responders never flinched. They clearly knew the danger, but they knew a citizen was in danger and pulled her out.  

One thing that surprised me was how swiftly the river was moving. The sight of trees floating down the river at high speeds was something I wasn’t expecting to see. Despite all the danger, first responders act instinctively to save a fellow human being, with a smile to boot. 

Flooding isn’t just in Woodford County, as many towns in Kentucky saw record rainfall over the past week. As the water began to rise, folks who live by the river were forced to make hard decisions. 

Whether to stay or go, and knowing that the roads would probably be covered, but nobody could foresee how significant the flooding would become. The highest flood on record in Woodford County unfolded, and things instantly became a life-or-death situation. 

These moments play out on the news after a tornado in the south or a hurricane on the coast, but what I witnessed on Buck Run was the real thing – life-threatening situations and real-life community heroes snapping into action. 

Later that night, more evacuations in the dark as folks faced rising water and terrifying circumstances. However, as Judge James Kay said in his Facebook Live video with Emergency Management Director Drew Chandler, folks were evacuated again thanks to the brave EMS workers who took the risk to rescue a community member. 

A little over a week ago, the Woodford County High School baseball team honored first responders before the first pitch of their game against Garrard County. Many of the men and women honored that night have been conducting rescue missions this week.  

I’m a sports writer, and my job is to tell the tales of the local athletes who do their best to represent our community with Woodford County pride. I love a good story about a big win over a rival or a new record being broken. This week, though, I am reminded that stories are much more powerful when we tell the story about what happens between the lines—stories of service, courage and selflessness because people showed up when it matters the most.  

The water remains high, and the rain has finally stopped – for now. There’s a lot of work to do. Once the flood recedes, there will surely be mud and more search and rescue missions. One thing for sure is that I will never forget the sights on Saturday afternoon on Buck Run Road.