GLASGOW – After sustaining considerable damage in flooding this week, the Barren River Animal Welfare Association is seeking financial support to help its animal shelter recover.

BRAWA board member Margie Patton said nearly a foot of water began to rush into the shelter about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, resulting in an emergency response to rescue animals inside.

The animals were safely moved to the former Barren County Detention Center before the water at the shelter finally receded around midday.

Shelter officials, emergency personnel and city workers transported about 50 animals in the backs of trucks and in donated crates to the former detention center.

However, the impact from the flood has shelter officials concerned.

“We do not have flood insurance, so a lot of this (damage) is not going to be covered,” Patton said. “That’s why we are going to have a lot of volunteers in here working and drilling holes in the walls at the bottom. A lot of our walls and cabinetry is ruined, so we will have to assess all of that. Plus, a lot of stuff in filing cabinets and drawers was harmed as well.”

Patton said the shelter has been at its location in Glasgow since 1995 and had experienced a relatively small amount of water in the building only once in that time.

But heavy storms that struck the region Tuesday caused South Fork Beaver Creek behind the shelter to flood the surrounding area.

Barren County High School’s baseball field down the street also experienced heavy flooding.

After the water receded, Patton said volunteers and shelter officials spent the entire day attempting to clean the layer of mud that remained.

“We were able to get our kennels cleaned out by the end of the day with help from the Barren County jail,” Patton said. “The animals were so happy to be back after a very stressful day for them.”

Patton said many cabinets in the surgery room will have to be replaced because of the risk of mold occurring in what is a sensitive area.

As news of the flooding spread, the community donated a significant amount of cleaning supplies, animal food and water.

“I’ve been here for over 30 years now, and it still amazes me how helpful and friendly this community is,” BRAWA Vice President Robin Crane said. “We were very fortunate to have their help. We would still be working through the night otherwise.”

Crane said any excess animal food will be shared with other shelters in southcentral Kentucky.

But despite the positive response from the community, the damage has taken a heavy toll.

Patton said the shelter lost three crates of cardboard carriers used to transport cats. The cost for those alone is about $1,000. Walls in the shelter’s main rooms also have heavy water damage.

The damage total was still being calculated as shelter officials met Wednesday to discuss next steps.

“Financial donations are probably the thing we need the most right now because we are going to have to repurchase some things that were destroyed,” Patton said. “There just wasn’t time to move everything. Our goal was to get all the animals out safely, and we were lucky to have gotten all of that done.”

Patton said the shelter could use more laundry detergent as well if people wanted to donate goods to the shelter instead of money.

Individuals can make monetary donations online at http://brawashelter.org, by phone at 270-651-7297 or in person at the shelter at 175 Trojan Trail in Glasgow.

– Follow reporter John Reecer on Twitter @JReecerBGDN or visit bgdailynews.com.