Buckhorn High gets $3.4 million flood protection upgrade after 2022 damage

Buckhorn High School is getting a new layer of flood defenses after the 2022 disaster forced Perry County schools into a long, costly recovery. The nearly $3.4 million project will install flood gates and flood-proof windows, with FEMA covering the full cost.

The work is tied to the Perry County Board of Education and is being managed by Codell Construction Company at 18392 KY Hwy 28 in Buckhorn, according to bid documents. The upgrades are aimed at hardening the building against water intrusion, not just repairing damage after the fact.

That distinction matters in Buckhorn, where flood recovery has already stretched across years. FEMA said Buckhorn School had more than 6 feet of water inside during the July 2022 flooding, and in 2022 it approved $1,134,539 to replace the school’s interior contents. Codell’s earlier flood renovation and repair project replaced flooring, ceilings, paint, lockers and casework after the storm.

The new protections come after Perry County schools had already been forced to absorb other flood-related costs. In November 2024, more than $5.6 million in additional FEMA-related aid was announced to help cover expenses tied to rebuilding Buckhorn School and Robinson Elementary School. During recovery, the Kentucky Department of Education said students from both heavily damaged schools were moved to the A.B. Combs campus.

The 2022 flood left a deep mark on the community. Perry County school recovery materials described Buckhorn School and Robinson Elementary as effectively wiped away in the July 28 flood, and Lex18 reported that Buckhorn Elementary School took on six feet of water. Students and staff faced disrupted routines, long bus rides and an uncertain return to normal campus life while repairs dragged on.

Now, the focus has shifted from cleanup to prevention. Flood gates are designed to block water before it enters the building, while flood-proof windows are meant to resist pressure and intrusion during high water events. For Buckhorn families, the payoff will be measured in fewer shutdowns, less damage to classrooms and equipment, and a better chance that the school stays open when heavy rain returns to Perry County.