Four people have lost their lives due to flooding triggered by powerful thunderstorms in Kentucky, with the state’s governor declaring a state of emergency on Saturday as more heavy rain was forecast to move through the region.
The National Weather Service had flash flood warnings active Saturday for portions of both Kentucky and Indiana. By late Saturday afternoon, the agency reported that between 4 and 10 inches of rain had already soaked parts of southwestern Indiana, with more precipitation still possible.
Gov. Andy Beshear’s office said some areas of Kentucky could see up to 7 inches of rain through late Saturday evening.
Beshear announced on social media that three of the deaths occurred in Madison County and one in Jackson County, all attributed to flooding.
“This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth,” Beshear said in a statement. “As more heavy rain continues through late tonight, we need folks to remain alert and to avoid driving, especially after dark when there is limited visibility.”
The governor noted that Madison County had “significant roads underwater” and that search and rescue teams had been deployed to the area. He added that at least 12 state roads were “out of commission” due to flooding conditions.
In northwestern Kentucky, just outside Louisville, emergency management officials in Bullitt County called on residents along a rural road to evacuate as a precautionary measure after a landslide occurred at a dam embankment. Officials said the dam itself was holding and showed no signs of imminent failure.
The National Weather Service reported that the Bullitt County area had received approximately 3 inches of rain over the previous two days.
