Kentucky Emergency Management
Clean Up Begins After Strong Storms, Heavy Rains Force Evacuations

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 19, 2012) - Late last night, Knott County residents in
the community of Red Fox were allowed to return to their homes below a pay
lake after the lake's dam was deemed safe and conditions stabilized. 

As a precaution, local officials made the decision to evacuate downstream
residents because of a possible breech after dam surface erosion occurred due
to excessive water seepage around the lake's drain pipe and emergency spill
way.

The water level in the lake rose rapidly as heavy rain pounded the area, with
reports of localized rainfall amounts from four to five inches falling within
a few hours.

Local and state officials determined the dam was stable after pumps were used
to safely draw the water level down, relieving pressure on the dam. Pumping
has ceased, and officials remain on the scene to continue monitoring.
Officials plan to investigate if an upstream coal mine silt pond may have
been a contributing factor to the rapid rise in the pay lake water level.

Cleanup continues today in other areas as localized flash flooding occurred
in other parts of Knott, Perry Pike and Letcher counties, leaving residents
along low-lying creeks stranded.  Perry and Knott have declared States of
Emergency. Residents of these counties should report any property damage to
their insurance company and to local emergency management. 

Counties in the Bluegrass region reported heavy rain and lightening that
caused scattered power outages and debris from fallen tree limbs. No injuries
or fatalities have been reported.

The National Weather Service has forecast additional storms may be possible
across the Commonwealth again today.

Kentucky County Emergency Managers can be found on the Kentucky Emergency
Management's website page at
http://kyem.ky.gov/teams/Pages/countydirectors.aspx .

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