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After floodwaters devastated Jessamine County at the beginning of the month, people were left with unrecognizable homes and ruined belongings, including family artifacts. As survivors empty and clean their homes, the Red Cross is now providing assistance and connection to resources.

The Kentucky River at High Bridge went from normal levels of around 14 feet to record-breaking flooding at 47 feet from Thursday, April 3, at 7 a.m. to Sunday, April 6, at 9 a.m. 

The Jessamine County-City of Wilmore Floodplain Permitting Office has notified residents whose homes were impacted by the flooding that floodplain permits may be required before they start “any repairs.” Floodplain maps can be viewed online at watermaps.ky.gov/riskportal 

For further information regarding these permits, contact the Jessamine County City of Wilmore Permitting Office at 859-885-6415. 

The American Red Cross has opened a Disaster Resource Center in Jessamine County, starting in-person support for survivors of the severe storms and flooding earlier this month on Monday, April 21.

According to a press release, Red Cross representatives can explain available assistance programs, how to apply to the Red Cross for financial assistance, and help connect survivors with resources for their recovery needs.

The Disaster Resource Center is located at the High Bridge Community Center, 4665 High Bridge Road, Wilmore, Ky 40383. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, April 21, through Friday, April 25. 

Flood survivors do not need to visit a center to apply for aid. Head to the following form to apply for assistance: https://disasterforms.redcross.org/f/2025KentuckyFloods 

Financial assistance is available to “qualified households whose primary residence was destroyed or sustained eligible structural damage.”

Residents throughout Jessamine County, not just the High Bridge area, are eligible.

Red Cross aid is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. 

The Red Cross is moving from county to county in flood-impacted areas. The Red Cross will send text messages, emails, or phone calls with instructions to qualified households on how to access financial assistance once the damage assessment is complete. The press release stated it will take time for the Red Cross to reach everyone, “and we appreciate your patience as we move as quickly as we can.”  To learn more, visit redcross.org/gethelp.

Red Cross donations are accepted by visiting redcross.org/kentucky, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. However, there are also GoFundMes up to assist locals in rebuilding, including https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-susan-and-charlie-rebuild-their-life-after-flood

and https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-brooke-lee-rebuild-after-devastating-flood.