WEST POINT, KY — As floodwaters from the Ohio River continue to swell, residents in West Point, Kentucky, are facing an escalating crisis. Many had prepared for such an event, building homes elevated above the floodplain, but the rapid rise of water over the weekend is testing their readiness.
Mark Misback, a local homeowner, spoke with WDRB from his elevated blue house near the river, which he and his wife built just three years ago with flooding in mind. Standing on the third-floor deck, Misback recalled how the situation quickly worsened. “I already brought up a freezer, refrigerator, stove, and some tools, patio chairs, pressure washer,” he said, describing how the water had just started creeping into his yard. At that point, his garage remained dry, but within three days, floodwaters had overtaken it completely.
“It came up so fast Saturday night. I’ve never seen it come up that fast,” Misback added, noting that the floodwaters had slowed but were still visibly rising. “I’ve got a piece of wood floating in front of the house, and it’s not even moving.”
Misback’s story echoes the concerns of many residents in the area, who are witnessing the unpredictability of the river firsthand. Just down the street, Christina Johnson returned home from work on Monday to find her basement flooded, despite having left early that morning to find everything in order. “When I left at four this morning, there wasn’t anything in the basement,” Johnson said. “By the time I got home, the cold, dirty river water was coming in.”
The rising floodwaters forced Johnson and her family to quickly remove appliances, including their washer, dryer, refrigerator, and deep freezer, from the basement. Though power remained on in her home, Johnson reported seeing utility crews working to shut off electricity in some parts of town.
In the days leading up to the flood, Johnson had bought a generator in preparation, a decision she now credits as crucial to managing the ongoing situation. “We just bought that yesterday,” she said. But despite the preparations, Johnson, who describes herself as someone who values a clean and organized home, admitted that the situation had been difficult to handle emotionally. “Oh my God. This has really got my anxiety all over the place,” she said.
Like many of their neighbors, Johnson and her family, along with their three dogs, are staying put—at least until the floodwaters rise high enough to threaten their first floor. For now, they are hoping that their preparations, along with the continued efforts of their community, will be enough to weather the worst of the flood.
As the Ohio River continues to rise, residents in West Point are moving quickly to protect their homes and belongings. Despite the chaos and anxiety the flood has caused, the tight-knit community remains resilient, staying alert and focused as they face an uncertain future.
