OWEN COUNTY — The Owen County Commissioners have declared an "Emergency Declaration of Local Disaster" due to the severe damage to county roads because of the recent heavy rainfall.
As part of the declaration, a local travel advisory is also issued and puts the county under the "Watch" status.
"Owen County roads have suffered severe damage, 23 culverts have been washed out and 2 bridges have significant damage," Owen County Councilman Anton Karl Neff said.
Sheriff Sam Hobbs says there have been no injuries and that there are a lot of trees and power lines down. Two bridges are also damaged.
Neff says over 30 Owen County roads are currently closed because of flooding and damage.
Hobbs says the community is resilient.
"The one thing about Owen County, people come together down here and they work so well with one another. It's a blessing," Hobbs said. "It's a mess, it's bad, but I say God's good to us ... it'll take a few days, they'll get things repaired."
"Owen County officials are discouraging travel on county roads, except when essential," Neff said.
"Things are bad, but they're not as bad as they could have been. No loss of life, that's the main thing," Hobbs said.
