50 people evacuated from Knott County hollow because of flooding

Authorities evacuated about 50 people from a Knott County hollow Wednesday after torrential rains caused a holding pond at a surface coal mine to overflow, according to Judge-Executive Randy Thompson.

Water from the holding pond, called a silt pond, flowed into a pay fishing lake downhill. The overflow from the silt pond flooded the hollow, called Breedings Creek, stranding several people, state police said in a news release.

Officials pumped water from the lake Wednesday afternoon, Thompson said.

State police said a crew also was gradually reducing the level of water in the silt pond.

Thompson said several inches of rain fell in the area in a short time Wednesday, causing flooding that also damaged roads and bridges.

The damage was concentrated in the Carr Creek — Red Fox area, Thompson said. No one was injured.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources reported that conservation officer Greg Watts rescued Kim Boggs, director of the Hazard-Perry County Senior Citizens Center, from floodwaters at the pay lake.

Eight-five senior citizens from the center were on a fishing outing at Four Star Village Pay Lake and Catering near Red Fox about 11 a.m. when rushing water dragged Boggs under, according to the department. She clung to a trash can, and Watts jumped in and grabbed her, the department said.

Flooding caused minor damage to roads and bridges in Pike County, said Doug Tackett, the county's emergency manager.

This story was originally published July 18, 2012 at 7:15 PM with the headline "50 people evacuated from Knott County hollow because of flooding."