Man found dead in Eastern Kentucky floodwaters after hours of rainfall
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Eastern KY suffers massive flooding
Raging flood waters over the weekend, and severe cold weather, have claimed the lives of 14 people across Kentucky.
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A man was found dead in floodwaters in Clay County after heavy rainfall Saturday, according to local authorities.
Clay County Coroner Jason Abner said it appeared Donald Keith Nicholson, 73, drove into water covering KY 80 in the Horse Creek community, near Manchester.
Nicholson got out of his vehicle, and the current swept him several hundred feet, Abner said.
Clay County Sheriff Patrick Robinson said Nicholson’s body was found in a flooded ditch near a residence.
Abner said emergency workers recovered Nicholson’s body, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The coroner’s office received a call to respond to the scene at 5:25 p.m. Nicholson was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m., Abner said.
Heavy rainfall had caused flooding around the hilly county Saturday, and some people had left their homes, said Revelle Berry, the assistant county emergency manager.
Rain pounded the region beginning early Saturday and lasted throughout the day.
On Saturday evening, the National Weather Service in Jackson said flood warnings had been extended for portions of the Red River, affecting Powell and Estill counties. Portions of the South Fork of the Kentucky River, affecting Clay, Owsley, Lee and Estill counties, also saw an extended flood warning.
More than 30 other counties in Eastern and Southern Kentucky remain under a flood watch through Sunday evening.
The weather service forecast called for periods of heavy rain and a few thunderstorms in the region overnight, with rainfall totals from 2 to 4 inches.
However, rainfall totals could top 5 inches in some spots, causing flash flooding, the weather service said.
The agency said there also could be wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph in some places on Sunday, with temperatures falling to near or below freezing and the potential for snow and freezing on the roads that could cause treacherous driving conditions.
Central Kentucky remains under a flood watch until Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Louisville.
The weather service said another 1 to 3 inches of rain on top of ground that is already saturated will lead to significant flooding concerns through the weekend, with flooding possible not just on rivers and streams, but streets as well.
This story was originally published February 15, 2025 at 9:11 PM.
