NEWPORT — Johnny and Sharon Hill heard neighbors shouting and looked outside to see what the commotion was about. It was water rising — and quickly — from the Pigeon River overflowing its banks more than 200 yards away and charging toward the Hills’ neighborhood.
“We’ve lived here 29 years and I’ve never seen it like that,” Johnny said. “Nowhere close. By the time we grabbed a few things, the water was gushing in.”
The Hills made it to safety, but just barely. The water level inside their house was about five feet by the time the river finally crested. Neighbors between them and the river had to be rescued from the roofs of their houses. One was airlifted by helicopter from the roof of a wooden shed that lodged itself against a power pole. [Read more…]