Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky announced on Saturday that four individuals lost their lives as a result of flooding caused by thunderstorms in the state. In response to the situation and with anticipated additional rainfall, a state of emergency was declared. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for certain areas in Kentucky and Indiana due to heavy rainfall.
According to reports from the National Weather Service, substantial amounts of rain, ranging between 100 and 250 millimeters, had already fallen in parts of southwestern Indiana, and more rain was expected. The forecast indicated up to 178 millimeters of rain in certain regions of Kentucky by late evening.
The fatalities occurred in Madison County and Jackson County, with three individuals losing their lives in Madison County and one in Jackson County due to flooding. Tragically, a man and a woman were found deceased in their residence in Richmond, Kentucky, after floodwaters submerged parts of the city, leaving residents stranded in their homes. Additionally, another victim was rescued from a vehicle trapped in floodwaters on Tates Creek Road near Lexington.
Search and rescue teams, led by Deputy Madison County Coroner Carlos Coyle, were actively conducting door-to-door searches in severely impacted areas to locate any remaining victims. Despite the challenges posed by inaccessible areas, rescue efforts were ongoing.
Gov. Beshear emphasized the severity of the flooding, noting that several roads in Madison County were submerged, while at least 12 state roads were rendered impassable due to flooding. In Bullitt County, near Louisville, emergency management officials urged residents of a rural road to evacuate as a precaution following a landslide at a dam embankment. Fortunately, there were no signs of imminent dam failure, though approximately 76 millimeters of rain had fallen in the area over the past two days.
The situation was described as a significant flooding event, with multiple water rescues conducted from both vehicles and homes across the state. Gov. Beshear urged the public to exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel, especially during low visibility conditions after dark, as heavy rainfall was expected to persist throughout the night.