LOUISVILLE, Ky. — People across Kentucky are waiting on flood waters to recede so life can start getting back to normal. There are numerous homes, businesses and apartment complexes surrounded by water. The high water is forcing residents to go to extraordinary lengths.

What You Need To Know

  • Isaac Ochoa and his wife live on the second floor of their apartment complex near River Road

  • The apartment is completely surrounded with water

  • Ochoa bought a kayak to get supplies for him and his wife 

Isaac Ochoa’s apartment near River Road in Louisville is surrounded by water and he’s been making multiple trips across the water in a kayak.

“I’m really from Chicago. So this is a new experience for me. I didn’t expect to actually fight the river,” said Ochoa. 

Ochoa and his wife live on the second floor and have a generator. He said the biggest concern is his wife, as she has multiple sclerosis.

“Well, we looked at that [going to a hotel]. And the issue I have again is the wheelchair. I can’t put her in a regular wheelchair. Any regular manual wheelchair won’t work because she needs to be able to elevate her legs to be able to retract her back, because MS is really bad for her and she’s in pain 24/7 so I have to do what I have to do to make her feel more comfortable than anything,” said Ochoa. 

Ochoa said they are in it for the long haul. But he had to make sure they have enough supplies.

“We had enough stuff there to last us for a couple of days. But yesterday we were running really low on cat food and dog food,” said Ochoa. 

Ochoa said he never thought he would buy a kayak as transportation.

Ochoa’s friend and co-worker Richard Maize came to help. 

“His wife didn’t want to leave. So I said, okay, whatever we gotta do, you know? So that’s what I do. I try to help people because you never know when it’s going to be to you and need of help. You know what I’m saying,” said Maize.

“He showed up after work, and we went and picked up the kayak. We went to Kroger, picked up some food. And so now I’m rowing the stuff back and forth to get by. I’m not going to give up. That’s why I did what I had to do today to do to hopefully seem to get better,” said Ochoa. 

Ochoa said for now he and his wife have enough supplies and a new way of transportation. He is hoping to go back to work on Monday.  

There are flooding resources and if you need help to get out of your home, call 911.

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