LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kentucky American Water crews responded to a water main break Monday morning on Rosemont Garden near Clays Mill Road.
The incident was caused by a break on a 16-inch-diameter water main and remain at the site, according to KAW.
KAW said Rosemont Baptist Church and two homes were flooded.
According to Servpro Lexington, the church was flooded with 1.5 million gallons of water. With five pumps, they expect to get all the water out by midnight. Then, it will need to be completely demoed.
"For any church to suffer this kind of loss, it's a big deal," Servpro Lexington co-owner, Jeff Smith, said.
But what the experts can't do is save what was lost. Sunday school classrooms, a newly renovated kitchen, the boiler system, and more were all destroyed.
Their archives were destroyed too.
But property chairman Barbara West, who has been going to the church for nearly 50 years, said there is a silver lining.
For the church's 75th anniversary in June, a book with old documents and photos, some you would have found in the basement, was made.
"This is some of the previous pastors and the founders of the church," West said while thumbing through the pages.
It's offering a glimmer of hope during this tough time.
"We're pretty strong," she said. "Everybody will jump in and do their part and we'll put it back together."
Crews worked to shut down the water and water main. KAW says water service has been restored to those affected.
The company says they will continue the final steps to extract water from areas affected and plans to conduct additional restoration efforts on Tuesday.
