A nearly one-mile stretch of Burlington Pike reopened Aug. 12, after Boone County and state road crews spent the night clearing downed trees and utility lines left by Tuesday's severe storms.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 6 announced around 11 a.m. that the section of KY-18 between Belleview Road and Middle Creek Road was passable again. The road had been fully blocked since Tuesday afternoon.
Newly appointed Boone County Engineer Tom Logan, a 20-year county resident who also serves as Public Works director, told LINK nky he dispatched two cleanup crews immediately after the Aug. 11 storms: one to the Petersburg area in northwestern Boone County and another to the Verona area in the county's south end.
"Once that storm cleared, we've been back out, continuing to remove debris, with my primary focus being having our roads passable," Logan said.
Wind gusts approaching 50 mph were recorded at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport during the storm, according to Logan. His crews used a mini-excavator and a backhoe to haul heavier debris off roadways.
Brown Road, west of Interstate 71, took the hardest hit. Crews worked through Tuesday evening to reopen it. By Tuesday night, Logan said most affected roads were passable.
Public Works crews resumed work around 7 a.m. Wednesday but were temporarily delayed by a second round of rain and lightning. The department coordinated with the Public Safety Communications Center to prioritize which roads needed attention first.
More storms ahead
The cleanup is far from over. The National Weather Service is predicting additional storms through Aug. 13, with the heaviest rain expected Thursday night into Friday morning. A flood watch was in effect through Wednesday evening.
The Ohio River is expected to crest at 37.7 feet at 8 a.m. Aug. 14, according to LINK nky. That level is just below the threshold at which residents are advised to begin taking action to mitigate flooding.
As of late Wednesday morning, about 17,000 Duke Energy customers, several hundred Owen Electric customers and 10 Kentucky Utilities Company customers remained without power across Northern Kentucky. As we reported on the widespread power outages Wednesday, Duke Energy has not provided a restoration timeline.
The National Weather Service warns that just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet. Residents should not drive or walk through flooded roadways.
How to report hazards
Residents can report downed power lines to Duke Energy at (800) 543-5599, Owen Electric via its online contact form, or Kentucky Utilities at (800) 981-0600 (fast path 1-1-2). Free emergency notifications are available at boonecountyky.org under the emergency management department.
