OAK GROVE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Nearly a week after a flood overtook large areas of Hopkinsville and Christian County, some Oak Grove residents are still surrounded by high water. Although there were collaborative rescues done by Christian County Emergency Management and other agencies, some people are emerging from their homes for the first time trying to figure out next steps as the community continues to provide assistance to this area.
On Wednesday morning, Darrell Starks and his family decided it was time to leave their home on Kingman Court after spending days barricaded inside. After loading suitcases into his car, Starks told Christian County Now that they had been inside since the rain started in the hopes that water would quickly recede. After several days they decided it was time to venture out, with no set long-term living situation.
Starks took photos of when the flood was at its highest, with a river of water completely surrounding their home and seeping into cars and the house. “It’s in god’s hands now,” said Starks before they drove away from the flooded neighborhood.
| RELATED STORY: Flood recovery begins for Hopkinsville, 25 businesses and 150 homes affected
Past flooding issues, impact on community
While water has receded a bit around Kingman Court, there is no safe path to drive through, with water still covering mailboxes and engulfing homes on April 9. An update from the Oak Grove Police Department said that all primary roads within the city are clear of standing water.
However, Starks’ neighborhood is not the only was still underwater. According to Oak Grove PD, the Shadow Ridge neighborhood, Keith Avenue, Timothy Avenue, Man O War Drive, Lillian Drive, and Indiana Avenue, are still experiencing excessive water.
This is not the first time areas like Shadow Ridge have experienced flooding. When heavy rainfall hit the area back in February, Randy Graham with Christian County Emergency Management said water in that area simply has nowhere to go. At the time he suggested to the Oak Grove City Council that an engineer should be brought in to look at a nearby retention pond which is just south of that residential district.
Ongoing flooding is also affecting students in the area, as several bus routes in Oak Grove and southern Christian County have been canceled for the week. This mostly affects students at South Christian Elementary, Hopkinsville Middle, and Hopkinsville High, according to a news release from CCPS.
Aid for Oak Grove
The Clarksville organization YAIPAK was able to assist people in Oak Grove on Wednesday by bringing nearly 3,000 pounds of essential items to homes that are cut off by high water. These items include food, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies. They were able to utilize a boat from Beacon Rescue to deliver the items straight to the front door.
In a statement, they said this was possible through support from the Christian County Health Department and city council members. They have set up a distribution center with essential supplies at the Oak Grove Community Center which will be accessible Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. YAIPAK has also set up a distribution center in Hopkinsville.
Oak Grove is currently under a State of Emergency which activates the city’s emergency operations plan and makes additional resources available. The city does not have a designated emergency shelter, so people are encouraged to seek assistance at St. John’s Methodist Church in Hopkinsville where temporary accommodations can be provided. Find a full list of available resources here.
The Oak Grove Community Center is offering additional support by providing recovery resource information on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dumpsters will also be available at the USA Video Store on Highway 115 for those who are focusing on storm cleanup.
| RELATED STORY: Over 50 volunteers supply flood victims with truckloads of essentials in Hopkinsville