Storms Kill Dozen   

STORMS KILL DOZEN: TOLL MAY BE HIGHER

MAY 30, 1927 Paintsville, Ky.

The highest headwaters in forty years were sweeping down the Big Sandy Valley tonight, leaving nine known dead and unestimated property damage in their wake.

Rainstorms of cloudburst proportions struck southeastern Kentucky about 10 o’clock last night and continued for eleven hours. By 3 o’clock this morning small mountain streams were torrents, and persons were fleeing from their homes or seeking refuse in the upper stories.

With houses washed away, railroad tracks submerged or gone, and lines of communications disrupted, the storm damage probably will mount into the thousands of dollars. The storm-swept mountains are sparsely settled, probably accounting for a small loss of life, although unconfirmed reports told of additional deaths.

Families are Trapped

Six persons lost their lives at Roxana, Letcher County, when the cloudburst sent mountain streams out of their banks and trapped several families in their homes. Those drowned were trying to reach a place of safety when they lost their lives. None of the bodies have been recovered. The names of the four victims were said to be Mrs. Chester Fields of Elsiecoal, a mining camp: Mrs. Green Callahan and two children. One man reported drowned at Elsiecoal.

Persons in the lowlands down the valley were moving out tonight as reports told of the flood waters sweeping down the mountains toward their homes.

Fleming and Neon in Letcher County and numerous towns in Floyd and Johnson County were hard hit.  Another Storm struck Morehead, Rowan County, some miles west of here, and did extensive property damage.

Wind and rain storms in western Kentucky during the past few days have caused considerable damage, principally to barns and crops.