On April 12, 2011, Harrison County reacted to a flooding event, anticipating a crest of 22.5 feet. As of 11:30am, April 13, 2011, the South Fork of the Licking River in Cynthiana was at 21.991ft. The National Weather Service believes that the river has reached its peak height for the event, with fluctuations within a few tenths of an inch expected.

In reaction to the event, Harrison Co Judge Executive authorized the opening of a shelter at Cynthiana Christian Church and sent notification to citizens via the CodeRED system and a door-to-door campaign conducted by Harrison Co. Search and Rescue. Though several families were disrupted by the event, none stayed overnight in the provided shelter.

Other preparations that went underway were the evacuation of the Recreation Department offices at the River Road Ball Park, evacuation of the Flora Shropshire Animal Shelter, and notification to businesses along or near the river banks.

Several county roads and city streets were also impacted by the event, however Harrison County Schools were on regular session, as alternate bus routes were available.

From the National Weather Service:

A vigorous low pressure system developed and moved across the Tennessee River Valley the night of Monday April 11th.  Showers and storms formed ahead of this low, bringing a first round of rain to the region during the day April 11th.  The upper level low (in the water vapor satellite image below over southern Missouri) that was driving the surface low (seen  over central Tennessee) forced a second wave of precipitation to move slowly through the region Monday night into early Tuesday.

Rainfall totals from Monday morning through Tuesday morning are indicated by the map below.  Data are obtained from COCORAHS observers, mesonet and other automated sites, as well as Cooperative Weather observers.  Rain continued falling after this map was generated, so amounts over the Bluegrass and Lake Cumberland regions was higher for the storm total.

Quoted text originally published by the National Weather Service at:http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lmk&storyid=66595&source=0

For more information on the event, the following links have been provided:

LEX 18 On The Scene: Flooding In Cynthiana
LEX 18 On The Scene: Licking River Quickly Rising In Cynthiana
Licking River In Harrison County Expected To Reach Flood Stage

Cynthiana Democrat: Flood 2011

Other articles published on this site covering this event may be found here:
http://harrisonema.com/tag/april-2011-flood/