By Dennis Brown

Cleanup is ongoing across an area hit by flash floods twice in less than a three month period while officials await word on whether FEMA will assist on repairing damages resulting from the heavy rainfall on July 20 and 21.

An emergency was declared in Lewis County early July 21 as reports began to come in to the Lewis County Judge Executive’s Office from across the county.

The rain began across the area on Tuesday evening, July 20, and continued throughout the night, dropping the most rainfall, about eight inches, across an area in the southern part of Lewis County.

It was in that area of the county the most damage was reported to homes, bridges and roadways. Orcutt’s Grocery, which also served as a Post Office for the community, was washed off its foundation and downstream by the swift and powerful flood waters.

Some mobile homes were completely washed away and destroyed. Some of the residents had climbed onto their roofs to escape the swiftly rising water.

Although no serious injuries were reported in Lewis County as a result of the flooding, Mary Littleton, 72, died in Carter County when the mobile home she was in washed away. In Scioto County, Ohio, Barbara Botkins, 53, drowned when she was overtaken at her home by the water.

Numerous crops were destroyed along creeks and streams. Farmers also lost barns and equipment they were unable to relocate to higher ground during the short time they had between noticing the rising waters and when the overflowing waterways

washed across fields and through buildings.

Some motorists fled their vehicles as they were surrounded by water on roadways while other vehicles were washed from driveways further downstream.

Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney said more than 50 homes received significant damage or were destroyed, and damage was widespread concerning roadways. He said several water lines were washed out and utility poles were broken or damaged by debris being carried by the flood waters.

Approximately 400 households were without water service while about 300 homes lost electric services as a result of the storm and subsequent flooding. Utilities have since been restored to the occupied homes most of the boil water advisories have been lifted. The only remaining advisory Monday morning was for water customers on Old Trace.

Area churches and the American Red Cross responded quickly with ‘flood kits’ and drinking water readily available to those affected. Road and utility repairs were expedited with the assistance of equipment and manpower from all around the area.

The National Weather Service has posted an event page on their website at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/events/20100721/. The site shows radar images of the rainfall and provides a description of the system on July 20 and 21 which produced the rainfall across the region.

Anyone having property damage that has not yet been reported should contact Lewis County Emergency Management at 606-796-3464 or the Lewis County Judge Executive’s Office at 606-796-2722.

Lewis County officials presented their monthly activity reports during the July meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court.

Sheriff Bill Lewis filed his department’s report for activities from June 14, 2010, to July 12, 2010:

* Subpoenas Served   42

* Domestic Related Calls   89

* Civil Summons Served   38

* Felony Arrests   33

* Misdemeanor Arrests   13

* Accident Investigations    10

* Juvenile Investigations   22

* Criminal Summons   7

* Prisoners Transp. to Secure Facility   2,089 miles

* Juveniles Transported   91 miles

* DVOs and EPOs   12

* Court Bailiff Hours   531

* Prescription Deliveries   1

* Auto Inspections   105

* Funeral Escorts   5

Lewis County Emergency Management Director Carl Chaney reported the following activities:

* Performed all routine administrative/office tasks as required by KyEM.

* Turned in all monthly reports for KyEM.

* Attended an applicant agent meeting at Morehead.

* Working with FEMA public assistance and individual assistance representatives.

* Attended a training session at Grayson.

* Provided dispatch coverage.

* Working on FEMA paperwork.

* Working on 911 issues.

* Working of Flood Plain issues.

The Lewis County E-911 Dispatch Center received a total of 573 calls for service for the following agencies:

* Sheriff’s Department   160

* Vanceburg Police Department   154

* Traffic Stops   61

* Injury Accidents   5

* Non-injury Accidents   12

* Complaints   73

Fire Department calls including fires, traffic accidents and EMS assistance:

* Lewis Co. FD   6

* Camp Dix FD   1

* Garrison FD   20

* Vanceburg FD   10

* Firebrick FD   0

* Black Oak FD   15

* Kinniconick FD   2

* Tollesboro FD   6

* Med Corp Ambulance   97

* Coroner   4

* Emergency Medical Assistance   0

* Non-CAD Events   541

Road Supervisor Dane Howard reported that more than 2,491 tons of gravel and over 11 tons of asphalt had been hauled over the previous month.

Graded roads included Saylor Branch, Swearingen Branch, Ben Willim Hollow, Rock Camp Road, Thorpe Ridge Road, Black Lick, Elk Lick, Burnt Cabin, North Thorpe Ridge, Bowman Springs and May Hollow.

Howard reported that pipe had been installed or repaired at Riverview, Stone Branch, Spence Lane, Tommy Hughes, Goodwin Branch, Quicks Run Road and Gerike Road. Ditching and road widening took place on Burnt Cabin and Quicks Run Road.

Potholes were repaired at Sand Hill, Trinity Station, Ribolt/Epworth, Andrew Mason, Old Trace and Straight Fork.

Brush cutting/mowing/tree and debris removal projects were completed in the Garrison area, Big Cabin, Rock Creek, Vances Creek, Craycraft Road, Skidmore Lane, Ribolt/Epworth, Simmons Road, Sand Hill, Bill Chain, Mud Lick, Firebrick, Scaffold Lick, Emerson and Old Trace.

Embankment and other road repairs were made on Fly Branch, Sargent Branch, Lambert Branch, Heddleston Church Road, Crooked Creek, Garden Branch, Long Branch, Silver Lick, Dry Hollow, State Fork Road, Black John Road and Swearingen Branch.

Road reconstruction and repair projects were going on at Bill Chain Road, Kinney, McDowell and Mills Branch. Bridge work was being performed and Manley Hollow and signage was placed at Owens Cemetery, William Esham Cemetery and our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.

Lewis County Jailer Tim Underwood filed the following activity report for June 1– 30, 2010:

Inmate Population:

* State Inmates CC/CD/CI   31

* Traded   0

* Served Out   1

* Paroled   2

* County Inmates   44

* Inmates Booked In   79

* Average Daily Jail Population   70

Fees/Payments Collected:

* Booking, Housing, Medical, Damaged Property   $1,662.18

* Telephone Commission   $1,310.54

* Class D/CC/CI Pay for April   $24,946.64

Food

* Somerset Food in June  $6,084.10

* GPS System  $0.00

Traveled 960 Miles during the month to Blackburn Correctional Complex, Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women and Franklin County Regional Detention Center.

Underwood reported that 26 Class D inmates participated in the work program totaling 1,480 man hours. The agencies they assisted included The Lewis County Courthouse, Justice Center, Sheriff’s Department, City of Vanceburg, Solid Waste Program, Clean Highways Program, Garrison Little League, Garrison Boat Docks, Tollesboro Little League, Lewis County Historical Society, Lewis County Board of Education, Corps of Engineers, Helen Rayburn Library, and the Black Oak, Tollesboro and Camp Dix Fire Departments.

He said 72 bags of waste were picked up in various locations for the Clean Highways Program.

Underwood reported the commissary account at the jail totaled $13,473.34 and the inmate account had a balance of $6,464.86.

The Lewis County Animal Shelter reported eight total animals picked-up and 28 dropped off; 14 adopted; 42 put down or died; and 58 calls received.

County Treasurer Kathy Dillow reported the total of all county funds for the month of June had a beginning balance of $593,150.13 and an ending balance of $299,409.48. Receipts for the month totaled $264,086.01 while disbursements totaled $557,826.66.

Judge Executive Steve Applegate reported on the alternate sentencing program adopted for non-violent offenders.

In the report, hot mix and pipe cleaning tasks were completed on Buck Lick, Ribolt/Epworth, Happy Hollow, Andrew Mason, Sand Hill, Trinity Station, Brandy Lane, Old Trace, Raccoon, Robinson Avenue, Garrad Road and Poplar Flat.

Signs were repaired or installed at Gander Branch, Church Street, Martin Lane, Highfield Lane, William Esham Cemetery, Our lady of Lourdes Cemetery, North Fork Ridge, Owens Cemetery and Collins Cemetery.

Bridge and guardrail areas were cleaned and trimmed on Kinney Road, Greenlawn Road, Straight Fork and Old Trace.

Mowing/trimming work was done for Sand Hill Road, Trinity Station, Slate Hollow, Carrs Hill Road and Kinney Road.

Road Garage Flood Cleanup hours totaled 40 and illegal dumpsites were cleaned up on Vanceburg Hill and Fly Branch.

The program reported a total of 888 participant work-hours and 33 bags of trash were picked up along roadways.

The next regular meeting of Lewis County Fiscal Court will be at 9:30 a.m. August 9, 2010, in the third floor courtroom of the Lewis County Courthouse.