“I’m in a predicament.”

This is how Marshall Beach, who lives on Cave Mill Road and operates his Hog Wild BBQ and Catering business out of the same address, described his current situation to Bowling Green city commissioners.

Around two weeks after a four day stretch of weather dropped over 10 inches of rain on Warren County, commissioners heard from Beach and five other city and county residents who experienced damage to their property during the floods.

Beach said the water ruined his generators, lawnmowers and the hardwood flooring in his home, which has a repair estimate of nearly $40,000.

“The sad part about it is, my insurance is not going to pay because I don’t have flood insurance,” Beach told commissioners.

Local states of emergency were declared previously by Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott and Warren County Judge-Executive Doug Gorman.

Over half of Kentucky’s 120 counties declared similar states of emergency due to flooding, as did Gov. Andy Beshear. However, to access aid from federal agencies such as FEMA, a presidential declaration is needed. However, no such declaration had been made as of Wednesday afternoon.

Beach told commissioners he needs this aid from Washington, saying “unless I get help from FEMA or something, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

He also expressed concerns over an upcoming road project that would widen a portion of Cave Mill Road near his home. To this end, he said he would like to sell his property to the city.

“I don’t want to sell this house,” he said, adding that repairing the home would be a large undertaking.

“With the field next to it, it would make a great place to put a retaining (area) for the water to go to where this never happens again,” he said.

David Williams, who lives on Stone Crest Avenue and has resided in Bowling Green since 1988, told the commission he has only been able to sleep “20 hours in 10 days” because he keeps waking up “thinking about our situation.”

Williams said his home was visible in drone footage shot during the flooding, and said his house looked like it was sitting in the middle of a lake. He expressed concerns over how heavy rains will affect flooding as new developments come into Bowling Green.

“There’s nothing more discouraging than to wake up … and having to put a pair of rubber boots on and walk out (to) your front porch,” he said.

Joel Mallett, who has lived in the Stone Crest area for 29 years, said while his neighborhood has had water issues in the past, nothing compares to what has happened in the area recently.

Mallett also expressed concern over new construction.

“You’re building these complexes, developments at the expense of us,” he said. “You’re not controlling your water, and why should we be the ones suffering for the city’s growth.”

Another Stone Crest resident, Stephen Burnette, said efforts were made to try and alert local officials over the impact that new construction in the area would have with water mitigation.

“I’m not trying to be mean to you guys,” he said. “(But) a lot of us feel like the people were sold out because there was a buck to be made here for these developers.”

Several other residents spoke similarly during the meeting.

City Manager Jeff Meisel encouraged those at the meeting to utilize local aid available at the Community Recovery Center, which is open this week at Michael O. Buchanon Park south of town.

Following public comments, Alcott praised the work of city crews in responding to the flooding and addressed concerns raised by residents.

“We know that the county and the city grow together … ,” he said. “… You can’t build a perfect world, but you can build a better one. We’re trying to understand that, and where to put our investments.”

The commission will meet again May 6.