Flooding causing roadway closures

Signs were diverting traffic away from East High Street, Main, East Locust and South Queen streets Friday morning where high water had gotten into the roadway, Emergency Management Director Greg Beam told the Advocate.

Beam said barricades were posted in these areas about 5 a.m.

Montgomery County had been included among several counties that were under a flood watch when Beam noticed the rain was causing flooding and contacted the National Weather Service in Jackson, which updated the alert to a flood warning.

Officials say to never try and drive around barricades or drive through water because you don't know exactly how deep the water is or how hard it is flowing, which places you at risk.

The Montgomery County Fiscal Court shared on social media that due to flooding across the county, Emergency Management had opened the Montgomery County Health and Civic Center as a shelter.

If you get displaced from your home there is a place for you to go, the post assures.

The city of Mt. Sterling noted that in addition to East Main, East Locust and South Queen that Tenney Avenue was closed to through traffic and it was closely monitoring Hinkston Pike at Garden Springs Drive. Expect delays and-or closings as rain continues to fall, the city said.

Montgomery County Schools were closed Friday due to flooding on numerous roads across the county. Child care was available at Mapleton Elementary School for families enrolled in the program.

Judge-Executive Chris Haddix said Harpers Ridge Road and Cecil Pike had the most extensive flooding Friday morning, but other areas had high water.

County officials were monitoring these areas, he said.

Beam said he is concerned about lies ahead for the weekend.

The NWS had forecast about eight inches of rain locally through Sunday in this weather event and the county has only received a fraction of that thus far, he said.