State of emergency declared in Kentucky in advance of forecasted heavy rain, flooding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Predicted heavy rain predicted across Kentucky this weekend prompted Gov. Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency.

A flood watch is in effect for early Saturday, Feb. 15 through Sunday afternoon. Another 2 to 5 inches of rainfall is expected, and, combined with previous rainfall over the past several days, will likely result in flooding across the state.

According to the National Weather Service on Friday, significant flooding is possible including isolated flash flooding. River flooding is very likely this weekend through next week.

"We want everyone to be careful,” Gov. Beshear said in a video statement. "The amount of rain coming down will make it hard to drive, and flash flooding, especially across our roads, can create dangerous conditions. And remember, don’t drive through standing water, it can have a current, and it is incredibly dangerous."

The Governor is taking action by activating the Kentucky Emergency Operations Center and units of the Kentucky National Guard to stand ready to respond. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials and crews are also on alert, and local emergency management leaders are working to keep Kentuckians everywhere informed.

Gov. Beshear also implemented the state’s price gouging laws to protect Kentuckians from overpriced goods and services as they clean up and recover from the storm. Consumers should report price gouging to the Office of the Attorney General.

The NWS in Louisville predicted between three and four inches of rain in Louisville this weekend with some areas to the south and west getting as much as six inches of rain. Eastern Kentucky could see heavy rains with up to three inches expected. 

Isolated major river flooding is predicted in parts of central and eastern Kentucky specifically for the Kentucky, Rolling Fork, Green and Rough Rivers. 

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in the Louisville District is also monitoring possible flooding along several rivers including Carr Creek, Cave Run, Green River, Barren River, Nolin River and Rough River. It said the lock and dam system on the Ohio River continued to operate for industry traffic.

Gov. Beshear urged Kentucky residents to take precautions: 

• Create a communications plan with family and friends 
• Have enough food, water and medicine on hand for at least three days 
• Prepare your home if you live in a flood prone area 
• Be prepared to evacuate with everything you need for your family and pets
• Make sure to charge your cell phone and portable radios

For additional preparedness tips from Kentucky Emergency Management, click here. 

Louisville gearing up for heavy rain

With it looking more like Louisville will get hit hard with rainfall, Mayor Craig Greenberg and Metro Emergency Management are preparing for what could come.

"Please heed the warning, be careful once the rain starts," Greenberg said.

There won't be flood walls put up yet because the Ohio River isn't expected to experience possible flash flooding until next week. 

Greenberg and Jody Meiman, the executive director of Louisville Metro Emergency Management, urged people to use Friday as a preparation day despite it also being Valentine's Day and people are enjoying the sunny weather.

The rain is expected to be steady throughout the morning Saturday before picking up to heavier storms in the evening.

"We're not asking people to stay home at this time," Greenberg said. "We're just asking people to be cautious."

Greenberg talked about the risk for both flash flooding and rising river levels. 

"With respect to any flash flooding that may occur, that we expect to go down more rapidly. If there's flooding from the Ohio River, we expect that flooding to not even occur until next week," said Greenberg. "So, we'll have more information once the rain comes -- when there's rain in other parts of the area that feed into the Ohio -- that will dictate what will happen to the Ohio River levels in our community, again that's not until next week." 

Meiman said resources were initially being put together to help other areas until it was known that Louisville could be hit with a heavy amount of rain.

"... we were putting resources together to potentially help the rest of the state and now it could look like, depending on what happens, we could need help from outside in the state so we're coordinating those resources as well," he said.

There will also be barricades in some roadways that experience major flooding so drivers know not to travel down those areas.

"We put the barricades out for a reason. Don't move them. Don't try to drive around them. Because we see that as well. Please don't do that," said Meiman. "Like I said, there's a reason that they're there. We'll have people out checking those viaducts or checking the flood prone areas if there is flooded roadways to make sure that we can remove them when it's safe to do so, so let the experts do that, let us take care of that, please don't try to move them and drive around them so you can get through." 

The 911 center will also be used so crews will know in real time what locations need the most attention during the storm.

"Take care of yourselves, take care of your family, watch the weather," Meiman said.

MSD said it's already inspecting catch basins in areas that tend to flood to clear out any debris that may block water from getting through. As of early Friday, a spokesperson said eight of the 150 floodgates are now closed to prevent river water from coming into the city.

"If you think about historically, rains and events like this that we've had, we've had places throughout the city that have never flooded that flood during certain events. So, it all depends on where that heavy rain actually hits, where it stays at, where things are going to flood," said Meiman.

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