Severe storms last week caused local waterways to swell and creeks to overflow their banks across the county on Wednesday morning. The National Weather Services issued flash flood warnings through the early afternoon and in Olive Hill sheriff deputies posted themselves along Mill Branch to monitor the situation as rainwater flowed down the street – and across US 60 – on its way to Tygart Creek. While the waterway didn’t overflow its banks through the city, the creek was flowing hard and strong. At the bridge over the creek near the eponymous Tygart Creek Elementary the water was flowing with heavy rapids. Further downstream the creek overflowed the banks, spilling into low lying hay fields through Globe, with water still flowing quickly in the central channel.
It wasn’t just Tygart Creek. In Grayson and Willard the Little Sandy River was full, and in the Carter City area Buffalo Creek nearly reached the underside of residential bridges across the stream.
The heavy rains also pointed out the limited capacity of storm sewers in Olive Hill, with water overflow pushing up through manhole covers throughout the city.
The heavy rains were also accompanied by strong winds and hail, which reportedly caused some minor damage in the early morning hours but had mostly abated by the time business started for the day. (Photos by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
