Flooding in eastern Kentucky kills 1, leaves others unaccounted for

One person was killed and half-dozen others were reported missing late on Monday in flash flooding triggered by heavy rain in Kentucky, local media said.

The sheriff’s department said thousands of people were displaced from their homes, some of which were swept away in the floodwaters.

A new round of severe weather capable of damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail was expected to hit the state overnight and early on Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

The county was saturated by about 4 inches of rain in about an hour Monday evening, said Regina McClure, the county’s emergency management shelter coordinator.

“We’re just hoping for the best today”, she said.

In Johnson County, coroner J.R. Frisby told the Lexington Herald-Leader a man died Monday after getting out of his vehicle and trying to walk through floodwaters.

Search teams have been working through the night along KY 172 near Hilltop Road, one of the hardest hit areas. It was unclear whether the man fell or was bumped by a floating auto, but he drowned before onlookers pulled him from water.

As many as 50-homes were damaged or destroyed by the flood waters, according to Johnson County Emergency Management.