Mandatory evacuations ordered in areas of Carrollton, Kentucky, amid rising floodwaters

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- There have been mandatory evacuations issued in Carrollton, Kentucky, due to rising flood waters.

Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams said this includes the areas of Greens Bottom, Happy Hollow and Prestonville.

Adams originally stated the evacuations were because the Dix Dam had 10 floodgates "accidently" opened.

But he later clarified that there was a miscommunication and apologized.

"The information we had earlier about the release at Dix Dam, that 10 dam gates were accidentally opened, we got that information from Frankfort," the mayor said in a Facebook video. "Somewhere there was a miscommunication to us and that was not true."

LG&E said that only six gates are open and are expecting to close additional gates Sunday evening.

There will be higher water levels than expected in Carrollton and Carroll County, according to Adams.

Adams said the impact to Carrollton and Carroll County "is expected to be the same."

LG&E issued the following statement about Dix Dam:

"We want to clarify some incorrect information that was shared today regarding a release at our Dix Dam generating station in Burgin. Reports that 10 gates were inadvertently opened at Dix Dam are inaccurate. On Friday evening, we opened spill gates in a controlled fashion according to our Dam Safety Procedures. Per protocol, a notification was sent out Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. alerting local officials and emergency personnel that a planned release would be beginning in a few hours. The National Weather Service was provided the same notification which was then relayed to the Ohio River Forecast Center to be factored into its river forecasts. For additional context, we only release inflow to Lake Herrington and no additional water into the river—meaning the flow of water is what would normally be in the river under current conditions. Flow into Herrington Lake has since subsided, and we are in the process of closing gates to maintain lake level until the Kentucky River crest subsides. Only 6 gates are currently open, and we are expecting to close additional gates this evening."

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