With floodwaters rising rapidly along Rough River, the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up to assist neighboring Ohio County as major flooding threatens to isolate communities and overwhelm emergency response efforts.
Ohio County Sheriff Adam Wright said forecasts indicate several communities could soon become inaccessible due to water levels expected to continue rising significantly. That includes the possibility of U.S. 69 and U.S. 231 near Hartford becoming impassable — something not seen since the flood of 1937.
In anticipation, Wright reached out to longtime friend and Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman earlier this week, asking whether DCSO deputies could assist with emergency response, particularly in northern Ohio County, including the Whitesville and Fordsville areas and on U.S. 231 east of Hartford.
“We’ve always worked well together, and the answer was absolutely yes,” Youngman said. “We’ll help anyone we can. That’s the right thing to do.”
Youngman said he notified Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen to ensure there would be sufficient local resources for both counties. Dispatch coordination is already in place between the counties, with Daviess County deputies prepared to respond directly to calls as needed.
“We’re set up so that if Ohio County Dispatch can’t reach their own deputies due to flooding, they’ll contact our dispatch directly,” Youngman said. “We’ve got the personnel and resources to help.”
Wright said his team has been planning for days, working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Kentucky State Police, and local emergency managers as Rough River Lake continues to rise. The Corps reported the lake reached spillway crest at 11 p.m. on April 4 and could rise another two feet in the coming days.
According to Wright, some areas have already seen dramatic changes.
“Last night around 10 p.m., we had to shut down 69 North near Ohio County Park. It was completely impassable,” Wright said. “Dundee’s fire department has already evacuated its apparatuses and placed trucks throughout the community to make sure they can respond from both sides of the floodwaters.”
Flood inundation maps released Saturday morning by the National Weather Service show widespread flooding near Dundee, Hartford, and other low-lying areas. Parts of River Road and U.S. 69 are already underwater, and projections show more flooding near U.S. 136 and areas close to Ohio County Park. Trailer courts in Hartford are also expected to flood, and portions of U.S. 231 between Hartford and Beaver Dam could be impacted.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched a new publicly accessible Rough River Lake Inundation Viewer to help residents gauge the potential flood impact on their properties. The data, based on the latest terrain models, projects water levels from 510 to 536 feet above sea level, with expected levels between 530 and 532 in the coming days.
“This isn’t a dam failure — it’s a spillway event,” said Adam Connelly, Water Resources Section Chief for the Corps’ Louisville District. “The spillway is doing what it’s designed to do: safely pass excess water downstream when the lake reaches maximum capacity. But communities need to stay alert.”
Wright emphasized that while much of the county remains accessible for now, critical state routes could soon be cut off. His concern isn’t just about response time — it’s also about maintaining order and preventing theft.
“We’ve stationed deputies in both north and south parts of the county and are patrolling the flood’s edge constantly to deter looting,” Wright said. “We’ve had time to prepare, unlike places like eastern Kentucky, where floods hit overnight. But the worst could still be ahead.”
Both sheriffs praised the cooperation between agencies and said relationships like theirs are crucial in moments like this.
“We’re all in this together,” Youngman said. “The motto of the Sheriff’s Association is ‘no sheriff stands alone,’ and this is exactly why.”
Flood preparedness tips are available at ready.gov/floods, and current lake levels can be monitored at lrl-wc.usace.army.mil/reports/lkreport.html.
