The rain moved into Montgomery County Tuesday morning and became heavier as the day went on, slacking only a little before more rain fell on the county.
According to weather.gov the area will see rain until Saturday. Wednesday was forecast as 100 percent chance of rain, today chances are 80 percent, Thursday’s chance is 70 percent, and Friday’s chance is back to 80 percent.
Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Alan Pratt said that Gordon Road had water over the road, and Sweet Home Road was washed out Tuesday afternoon. He said a bus got stuck in the water attempting to take students home on Hendrix Road, just to the north of Lower Milligan Springs Road in Kilmichael.
“The bus driver didn’t know how deep the water was and tried to go through it,” Pratt said. “The bus got caught in the water, and he went to the side of the road.”
Pratt said there were two occupants on the bus that were removed by deputies, and the Montgomery County Unit System assisted in getting the bus out.
He said the occupants were all okay, and the bus was safely removed from the water and taken to the bus shop.
Wednesday, there were several roads in Montgomery County that were either closed or partially closed. Pratt said Sawyer Road and New Hope Loop, just off of Highway 51 in Northern Montgomery County, was closed due to rain issues, the intersection of Sweet Home Road and Scott Road was closed. Stafford-Wells Road was closed to the bridge due to water on the road, but it was still passable. Hendricks-Lewis Creek Road just off of Lower Milligan Springs Road was partially closed but should be reopened, and the north end of Will Eiland Loop in Kilmichael is closed.
In Winona, South Union Street, Republican Street, Sterling Avenue and College Street are all holding flood water.
Tony Palmertree said mud slid down the edge of an embankment into the road, off of Powell Street at the intersection of Barron Street. He said New Hope Road will be closed until next week.
“It’ll probably be closed until it dries – at least until we can get in there and put some dry dirt in that hole. [We] can’t put mud in there,” Palmertree said.
Along with the rainfall -- and more to come -- the Big Black River is steadily rising, almost reaching its record level of 19 feet. According to weather.gov, the Big Black was at 15.39 feet Wednesday and rising, that’s a seven-foot rise from Monday, when the river was at eight feet.
“We’re going to see rain for several more days,” Alan Pratt said. “This is what we should expect.” Pratt echoed Walker saying that drivers should be cautious and should not travel into water they cannot see.
“Always drive with your lights on and drive safe,” Pratt said.
