"Devastating flooding" hits small Kentucky town of Pikeville as mayor reports over 50 swift water rescues

"Significant and devastating flooding" in Pikeville, Kentucky — a small town in the eastern part of the state with a population of roughly 7,000 —  has left the community submerged in water, the city's mayor Jimmy Carter said. Dozens of swift water rescues have been conducted since a deluge of rain hit over the weekend, flooding entire neighborhoods. 

Storms brought several inches of rain across eastern Kentucky over the weekend, including Pikeville. Videos show streets completely inundated with floodwaters. In one video, the steps to a church are no longer visible in the town, located in Pike County, where 11 people are confirmed to have died from the weather over the weekend, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday. 

At one point late Saturday night, officials said the river level at the monitoring point in the lower Bowles Addition had reached 38 feet, prompting them to put up a flood gate. As of Monday morning, Pikeville Public Safety said the river levels had subsided enough that pond gates could be opened, but that water levels would continue to be monitored.