Kentucky flooding kills four, forces evacuations as governor declares emergency
– 2 min read
Kentucky is dealing with a serious flooding emergency Friday, and Governor Andy Beshear is asking people to stay home- especially once the sun goes down.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Saturday as heavy rain continues to pound most of the state. Some areas could see up to seven inches of rain before the storms are expected to taper off around 11 p.m. tonight.
The situation is already dangerous. Water rescue teams have been pulled into action across the commonwealth, pulling people from flooded vehicles and homes. Five counties- Bullitt, Madison, Meade, Mercer and Spencer- have declared their own local states of emergency.
And lives have been lost. Governor Beshear confirmed four flood-related deaths Friday- three in Madison County and one in Jackson County.
"This is a serious flooding event," Beshear said. "We need everyone to stay alert and do what's needed to keep each other safe."
In Bullitt County, flooding concerns have taken on an added dimension. A landslide compromised part of the embankment at the Bullitt County Rod & Gun Club dam, prompting emergency officials to order precautionary evacuations for residents on Cedar Springs Drive. As of Saturday afternoon, the dam was still holding with no signs of imminent failure- but Bullitt County Emergency Management said it is actively monitoring the situation with engineers and emergency responders on scene.
"Out of an abundance of caution," the agency said in a statement, officials conducted the evacuations "in the event conditions change." Residents are being asked to avoid the area so emergency personnel can work safely. Updates will be posted to Bullitt County Emergency Management's official social media pages.
Governor Beshear's biggest ask right now: stay off the roads. That warning gets more urgent after dark, when flooding combined with limited visibility makes driving especially treacherous.
Kentucky Emergency Management, Kentucky State Police and swift water rescue teams are on the ground responding to calls across the state. But 911 lines are getting overwhelmed. The governor is urging Kentuckians to reserve those lines for life-threatening emergencies only. If you need help with something that isn't immediately life-threatening, you can call the State Warning Point line at 1-800-255-2587.
Stay safe out there- and stay put if you can.
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