Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Governor Beshear visits Western Kentucky communities hard hit by recent storms
Governor, State Officials continue to monitor floods and begin assessment and clean up
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear traveled today to Western Kentucky to personally view storm damages that have been sustained by local cities and communities. In his travels today, Gov. Beshear visited with emergency management officials in Paducah; viewed buildings damaged by straight-line winds in Murray; helped fill sandbags in Smithland; and surveyed residential flooding near the intersection of the Green and Ohio rivers in Beals. In addition, he viewed the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the levee protecting Hickman and Fulton counties from the Mississippi River by air.
“Today I have once again seen the damage and destruction that a natural disaster can inflict on Kentucky families,” said Gov. Beshear. “My administration has emergency management officials, members of the National Guard, employees from my office, as well as from a variety of cabinets, out in the field and staffing our Emergency Operations Center in order to ensure that all calls for assistance are met.”
Earlier today, Gov. Beshear requested a major disaster declaration from the President of the United States for Individual Assistance, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation and Small Business Administration disaster loans. Under a major disaster declaration, local governments, state agencies, small businesses, certain private nonprofits (such as electrical cooperatives and water districts), individuals and households would be able to request financial assistance from the federal government to clean up, repair and replace property destroyed or damaged by the storm.
The Governor’s Office, Kentucky Emergency Management, Kentucky National Guard (KyNG), state cabinet partners and volunteer organizations continue monitoring and responding to issues arising from severe storms that struck Kentucky throughout this week.
Another severe storm struck southeastern and far eastern Kentucky overnight, dropping 1” to 2” of rain across these portions of the Commonwealth, causing some localized flooding and flash flooding. Historic river flooding will continue through the weekend on the lower Ohio and Mississippi river systems, with cresting expected late this weekend or early next week. The return to normal river levels could take a month or longer depending upon future conditions.
Kentucky’s first storm-related fatality was confirmed today. Mayfield Police Officer Andrew Washington was tragically killed in a weather related vehicle collision on Wednesday afternoon. “My prayers go out to the family and friends of Officer Washington, and I express my sincere appreciation for his service to the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear.
Flood conditions along most minor rivers and streams will start falling today over western and central Kentucky following 12 hours of dry weather. Three additional primarily rain-free days are in the forecast for all of Kentucky.
Currently, 61 counties and 21 cities have declared states of disaster: Anderson, Ballard, Bath, Boone, Boyd, Bracken, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Christian, Clay, Crittenden, Daviess, Elliott, Fleming, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Graves, Grayson, Green, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Kenton, Lawrence, Lee, Lewis, Livingston, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Scott, Spencer, Todd, Trigg, Union, Washington and Webster counties. The cities are: Bardwell, Benton, Brandenburg, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Carrollton, Cynthiana, Frenchburg, Hardin, Hartford, Hawesville, Hopkinsville, Greensburg, Lawrenceburg, Lewisport, Maysville, Taylorsville, West Liberty, West Point and Wickliffe.
The Kentucky National Guard continues to assist communities struck by the storms. Currently, KyNG has approximately 125 Guardsmen and 24 tactical vehicles providing civic support to Western Kentucky in response to the flooding along the Ohio River. These soldiers are conducting water barrier and sandbagging operations in Ballard, Daviess, Livingston and Ohio counties, as well as law enforcement support in Fulton and Henderson counties.
Emergency management officials continue urging motorists to avoid driving through flooded roadways and report any downed power lines to their local utilities or emergency management.
Please visit http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lmk to monitor river and lake levels throughout Kentucky. You may also sign up for United States Geological Society’s (USGS) Water Alerts, an application that allows you to receive updates at any of the sites where USGS collects real-time water information. Daily or hourly updates are sent via e-mail or text messages when the current conditions meet or surpass a threshold of concern that you determine. The site to sign up for USGS Water Alert is http://water.usgs.gov/wateralert.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reports 240 total highway closures on 221 routes in 53 counties. For road closures and conditions, please visit www.511.ky.gov , or call 511.
“Kentucky has repeatedly been stricken by natural disasters in the recent years,” said Gov. Beshear. “Throughout them all, including these storms that have caused flooding and infrastructure damage, I continue to be impressed and honored by the ability of Kentuckians to weather the storm, selflessly help their neighbors and offer a hand to a complete stranger. From neighbors to state emergency management officials, once again folks have come together to help others survive Mother Nature’s fury.”
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