FRANKFORT, Ky. — Frankfort residents are dealing with the aftermath of the severe flooding the city experienced this month. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Kentucky River in Frankfort crested just under the city's all-time record, with flooding affecting hundreds of residents  

  • Those affected include Sellus Wilder, whose home is still without power, water and gas

  • A distribution site downtown is providing hot meals to people and essential items such as diapers, cleaning supplies and disaster kits

Though the water has receded, residents such as Sellus Wilder are dealing with the mess and destruction that has been left behind.

“A lot of it's ruined,” Wilder said. “We may build a chicken coop of some of this old lumber, but I don't think it's going to go back into the house. I think some of the cabinets we can save ... or repurpose, but a lot of it has to be scrapped.”

Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson said more than 500 homes across Franklin County have been affected, with about 200 that have sustained major damage or are destroyed. The Kentucky River crested Monday, April 7 around 48.5 feet, just under the city’s record.

There’s a distribution site on Second Street in the downtown area in response.

“We've got plenty of volunteers to load whatever supplies that they feel like they need, and then they can just pull forward and have a choice of hot meals served to them,” said Mark Skeeters of the Benevolent Protective Order of ELKS, who is volunteering at the distribution center.

The site began handing out essentials Wednesday such as diapers, cleaning supplies, bottled water and disaster kits.

“We’ll just continue to do what we need to do here until there’s no need,” Wilkerson said. “If people quit showing up and don’t need supplies, then we’ll know we’ve done our job here.”

It has serviced on average between 450 and 600 residents daily. Wilder has been among those who have picked up supplies there.

“We don't have power,” Wilder said. “We don't have water. We don't have gas."

"We even had to shut the gas off right now, so there (are) no utilities here. It's just a big, musty, wooden tent, so the food and the water and all of that's been really invaluable.”

Wilkerson said he has been impressed by residents coming together to help one another in these difficult times.

“We’re a compassionate community, an empathetic community and people want to help each other," Wilkerson said. "But with this situation, it’s been more than I could have ever dreamed." 

He added he wants to make people aware of dangers that are still present. There have been mudslides, and Wilkerson said he advises people to be cautious along the river’s edge because of possible unstable areas.

People can find a QR Code to donate to the city’s flood relief efforts on its website.

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