Monroe county commissioners declare flood emergency

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners declared Tuesday a state of disaster emergency throughout the county due to recent record flooding, according to a press release. The state of emergency is scheduled to last until May 20, unless the board votes to extend or cancel it.

Citing a total rainfall of more than 10 inches between the period of April 19 and May 2, the commissioners said that the amount of rain and wind the county has received caused flooding, downed trees and washed out roads.

The record rainfall caused 23 roads throughout the county to be temporarily closed during the past month. Seven still remain closed at this time.

Lake Monroe has reached a record level of 557.28 feet as of May 4 and remains at flood stage as of May 10, causing significant damage to roads that run near the lake.

The declaration is the first step necessary to freeing up emergency funds for repairs and clean-up.

The governor will have to declare a state of emergency in order for state funds to be freed for counties and cities that have signed a local disaster declaration.


— Zach Ammerman