Blab News
Three Dead in Madison County Floods, Coroner Identifies Victims
When the rain came, it came with a roar, turning calm streets into rushing rivers and claiming three lives in Madison County on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The county’s coroner, Jimmy Cornelison, confirmed the identities of the victims and described the circumstances of their deaths. Two residents, 57‑year‑old John Powell and 51‑year‑old Patricia Beck, drowned in a basement apartment on University Drive in Richmond. Rescue crews arrived to find the pair submerged in the flooded basement, and the coroner’s office had been searching for Beck’s next of kin before the family was located.
The third fatality was 73‑year‑old Garnett Isbell. He was swept away by a sudden surge on Tates Creek Road (KY 169) near the Perkins/Ashcraft intersection. Cornelison noted that Isbell had lived in the area his whole life and had survived similar flooding events in the past.
"I think it’s a freak of nature, and we were right underneath it," Cornelison told reporters. "We had to be the epicenter, right here." He added that the water on Tates Creek rose quickly and then receded just as fast, but too late for Isbell.
The deluge was caused by several consecutive hours of heavy rainfall that produced flash floods along Tates Creek and other low‑lying areas in Madison County. Governor Andy Beshear declared a statewide state of emergency on Saturday, allowing the state to mobilize resources and coordinate relief efforts. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed a bridge on Tates Creek Road and rerouted traffic to KY 1156.
Officials from the Richmond Police Department confirmed that two people were found dead in the basement apartment earlier in the day, and a third death was later reported by the coroner. The county’s emergency services responded to more than 60 rescue calls and performed several swift‑water rescues.
Madison County, whose seat is Richmond, is part of the Richmond‑Berea micropolitan area and the larger Lexington‑Fayette‑Richmond‑Frankfort combined statistical area. The county’s population was 92,701 at the 2020 census.
Cornelison warned that additional flood‑related deaths could emerge in the coming days. "We’re hoping for the best," he said.
Property damage was also extensive. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported that a bridge on Tates Creek Road was damaged, and the Kentucky Department of Transportation is assessing road closures and repairs.
The state of emergency declared by Governor Beshear authorizes the use of state funds for emergency response and recovery. The incident follows a pattern of severe weather events in Kentucky, including the catastrophic 2022 floods that killed 45 people across eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and southern West Virginia.
Local residents and emergency officials are monitoring weather forecasts for additional rainfall. The National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings for parts of Kentucky and Indiana.
The coroner’s office will continue to investigate the circumstances of the deaths and will release further details as they become available. The families of the victims have been notified, and the county is working with local agencies to provide support.
At this time, the total confirmed death toll from the June 27 floods in Madison County is three, with the possibility of more fatalities pending. The incident underscores the need for continued preparedness and response planning in flood‑prone areas of Kentucky.
In the coming days, authorities will likely conduct additional investigations, assess damage, and coordinate recovery efforts. The state remains on alert for further weather‑related emergencies.
The county’s coroner, Jimmy Cornelison, confirmed the identities of the victims and described the circumstances of their deaths. Two residents, 57‑year‑old John Powell and 51‑year‑old Patricia Beck, drowned in a basement apartment on University Drive in Richmond. Rescue crews arrived to find the pair submerged in the flooded basement, and the coroner’s office had been searching for Beck’s next of kin before the family was located.
The third fatality was 73‑year‑old Garnett Isbell. He was swept away by a sudden surge on Tates Creek Road (KY 169) near the Perkins/Ashcraft intersection. Cornelison noted that Isbell had lived in the area his whole life and had survived similar flooding events in the past.
"I think it’s a freak of nature, and we were right underneath it," Cornelison told reporters. "We had to be the epicenter, right here." He added that the water on Tates Creek rose quickly and then receded just as fast, but too late for Isbell.
The deluge was caused by several consecutive hours of heavy rainfall that produced flash floods along Tates Creek and other low‑lying areas in Madison County. Governor Andy Beshear declared a statewide state of emergency on Saturday, allowing the state to mobilize resources and coordinate relief efforts. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet closed a bridge on Tates Creek Road and rerouted traffic to KY 1156.
Officials from the Richmond Police Department confirmed that two people were found dead in the basement apartment earlier in the day, and a third death was later reported by the coroner. The county’s emergency services responded to more than 60 rescue calls and performed several swift‑water rescues.
Madison County, whose seat is Richmond, is part of the Richmond‑Berea micropolitan area and the larger Lexington‑Fayette‑Richmond‑Frankfort combined statistical area. The county’s population was 92,701 at the 2020 census.
Cornelison warned that additional flood‑related deaths could emerge in the coming days. "We’re hoping for the best," he said.
Property damage was also extensive. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported that a bridge on Tates Creek Road was damaged, and the Kentucky Department of Transportation is assessing road closures and repairs.
The state of emergency declared by Governor Beshear authorizes the use of state funds for emergency response and recovery. The incident follows a pattern of severe weather events in Kentucky, including the catastrophic 2022 floods that killed 45 people across eastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, and southern West Virginia.
Local residents and emergency officials are monitoring weather forecasts for additional rainfall. The National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings for parts of Kentucky and Indiana.
The coroner’s office will continue to investigate the circumstances of the deaths and will release further details as they become available. The families of the victims have been notified, and the county is working with local agencies to provide support.
At this time, the total confirmed death toll from the June 27 floods in Madison County is three, with the possibility of more fatalities pending. The incident underscores the need for continued preparedness and response planning in flood‑prone areas of Kentucky.
In the coming days, authorities will likely conduct additional investigations, assess damage, and coordinate recovery efforts. The state remains on alert for further weather‑related emergencies.
