Large amounts of rain fell across Harrison County on Friday, February 18, 2000, causing many people to wonder and worry. It had been only three years since the last “great” flood which submerged a portion of Cynthiana. Fortunetely, these rains were no match.

Floodwaters did, however, cause a great problem, especially for students in the Westside school district who had been scheduled for early release in response to the rising creeks and streams.

David Mattox, director of the Harrison County Emergency Management Agency during that period, is quoted as saying, “At one time, 80 percent of the roads in Harrison County were blocked.”

These blocked roadways were part of the deciding factor in holding students not yet released from Westside Elementary. Students from other Harrison County schools were also held at Westside. DeeGee Fischer, public relations coordinator of the school system, reported that the last student awaiting to be picked up by a parent finally left at approximately 9 p.m. that night.

A shelter was also opened at the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church for approximately sixty people who had been evacuated from their homes along Pleasant Street. Though the shelter remained open until Saturday morning, only one family stayed throughout the night.

The American Red Cross established a point for assistance the following morning at the EMA office.

According to Mattox’s report, a total of fourteen families were displaced by the floodwaters.

Information used for this article:
Barnes, Becky. “Friday’s rain causes flooding problems different from 1997.” The Cynthiana Democrat 24 Feb 2000: A1.