• Large portions of Owen County flooded on Sunday, but the Kentucky River and the creeks that feed it are expected to rise at least 7 feet over the next two days.
• Owen County Search & Rescue teamed up with Scott County to save a family of five when flooding turned the land around their house into an island.
• All along the Kentucky River, including in the capital city, residents were leaving their homes.

MONTEREY — Rain-soaked blonde curls ringed Maggie LeMaster’s face.

The tiny girl looked from her mom to her grandma to her big sister, Baylee, to Mister Cow, tucked under Baylee’s right arm.

The yellow life vest pressed Maggie’s sweatshirt tight against her. The nylon and her grandpa’s arms had held her safe during the boat ride across floodwaters.

“Did you have fun?” Lisa Henderson asked her young daughter as they gathered on the roadside.

“Yeah!” Maggie exclaimed, raising her tiny right fist in the air and glancing at Mister Cow.

More: Frankfort mayor urges some residents to evacuate as Kentucky River builds to record crest

Both Owen and Scott County Search & Rescue teamed up to evacuate the five family members from their Owen County residence, which turned into an island as the Kentucky River rose on Sunday. It was a boat ride that will hopefully never run again in Maggie’s lifetime.

Greg Estes, fire chief of Owen County, steered the boat to a nonexistent ramp, and like he was the captain of an amusement park water ride, told Maggie and her family: “Wave and smile for the camera!”

Owen County’s Emergency Management director Larry Karsner watched from the blacktop of Highway 355 as the family stepped onto the ground again for the first time in nearly an hour. Karsner exhaled loudly and smiled.

“There they are,” he said. “Thank God. I’ve got a good team.”

By that time, Karsner, Estes and the small crew completed four rescues. By Tuesday morning, the tributary is expected to rise 7 more feet. As rain continued to pour on the commonwealth, Owen Countians and residents of Frankfort and little towns along the Kentucky River left their homes for higher ground.

“This is just the beginning,” Karsner said.

Some residents found boats to go back and rescue possessions.

About 9 miles north, there was no way in or out of the Kentucky hamlet of Gratz. When Chris Simon found out his employee’s house was projected to flood in the coming days, he brought his son, nephew and brother plus four kayaks to rescue possessions from the home and an elderly neighbor.

They navigated past steel drums, trash and debris floating in the muddy water as they paddled across a portion of Crittenden Street toward the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Back in Monterey, three friends helped launch Chuck Razor and his dog Bear into the river from Monterey Pike so he could paddle across to his brother’s house. Razor couldn’t find a hotel room for the night beyond an expensive room in Frankfort.

“I’ll be glad if it doesn’t rain the rest of this year,” one of his friends said, as they watched him navigate the rushing current.

Overnight, Cedar Creek, which flows into the Kentucky River, rose above the bridge into Monterey, cutting off access.

The town (population: 112) had its last major flood on March 3, 1997, but the one referred to most on Sunday was the 1937 flood. That’s when the water rose to 56.86 feet.

Flood stage for the Kentucky River near Monterey, at Lockport, is 33 feet. It’s expected to crest Tuesday morning at 57 feet, which would exceed the record by 3 inches.

But water and residents were just part of Karsner’s concerns.

“Now we’re worried about looters,” he said. “I’ve asked the state for help, but if they don’t send any, I will sit out all night in this truck if I have to.”

Latest: Kentucky floods: Carroll County orders mandatory evacuations after accidental dam release

They were big topics for Maggie, who continued to point out what she saw to a boy in a yellow safety vest who helped her off the boat.

Karsner guided the family to his truck. He was taking them to Owensboro, where another family member would pick them up and take them to a dry home.

After loading their luggage, he turned to Scott County’s Search & Rescue team.

“Again, thank you all,” he said. Four men in red wet suits nodded their heads — a world of understanding unspoken.

Maggie climbed into the back seat of the truck.

Mister Cow followed.

Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative reporter. She can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her at @stephkuzy.