Kentucky Faces Severe Flooding and Tornado Threats Amid Historic Rainfall

Rising river levels in Kentucky have initiated evacuations and warnings of impending danger, with ongoing water rescues in submerged regions.

Earlier this week, the National Weather Service forewarned of “generational” flooding due to a stagnant weather pattern, causing multiple storms to repeatedly slam the Central and Southern U.S.

A band of destructive storms has swept from Texas to Ohio, claiming at least 17 lives since Wednesday.

On Saturday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency due to possibly record-breaking rainfall in areas unused to such extreme flooding.

“We need everyone statewide to take this seriously,” Beshear emphasized.

In Frankfort, Kentucky, residents in low-lying regions have been cautioned to brace for potential flooding as the Kentucky River is expected to crest at a historic high on Monday—nearly reaching flood wall maximums.

“The flood wall is designed to hold back 51 ft of water, assuming all sandbags, temporary protections, and closure structures are in place,” stated the city in a press release.

“The current river crest is predicted at 49.5 feet, marking the highest recorded in history. Low-lying areas face flooding, roadways might become submerged and inaccessible, basements and lower floors could be inundated,” the city warned.

Franklin County Judge Executive Michael Mueller mentioned in a Facebook update on Sunday that the Kentucky State Police and the National Guard are assisting.

The National Guard was involved in door-to-door evacuations in the Bellepoint neighborhood, Mueller noted. Many residents in south Frankfort were being urged to leave.

Approximately 50 miles northeast of Frankfort, a mandatory evacuation has been enforced in Falmouth, Kentucky, restricting access solely to residents.

“If you do NOT live in Falmouth, entry to the town is barred,” Pendleton County’s public information officer Rob Braun reported. However, through traffic can still access US 27.

Further south, the Ohio River, stretching through Louisville, Kentucky, surged over five feet in just 24 hours and is anticipated to rise much higher in the next few days, Mayor Craig Greenberg noted on Saturday.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office reported on Sunday that the Rolling Fork River is rapidly rising, with ongoing rescues in the Colesburg area, about 30 miles south of Louisville.

In southwest Kentucky, the mayor of Bowling Green declared a state of emergency. “Avoid flooded and low-lying areas. Violators driving around barriers will be cited,” warned the city via Facebook.

The Kentucky Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Administrative Office of the Courts in Frankfort, and Hardin County courts will remain closed on Monday, with Franklin County courts shutting down all week.

Destructive Tornadic Activity Leads to Fatalities

Severe weather reported 87 incidents, including four tornado and 78 wind reports, and five hail occurrences as unyielding rain and tornado storms battered parts of the South and Midwest on Saturday.

Among the fatalities was a 5-year-old boy found in a demolished home in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to authorities. Local police discovered the child during a medical response call on Saturday.

In Kentucky, a 9-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters while heading to his bus stop in Franklin County on Friday, said law enforcement. In nearby Nelson County, a 74-year-old man was discovered in a submerged vehicle on Saturday, authorities disclosed.

In Jasper County, Mississippi, one person was confirmed dead by the state’s emergency management agency on Sunday, while Tennessee has recorded at least 10 storm-related fatalities.

Roughly 22 million individuals are at risk of severe storms on Sunday, spreading from central North Carolina southwestward to the Gulf Coast, detailed by the Storm Prediction Center.

The highest threat area, rated level 2 out of 5, extends from northern Georgia to eastern Louisiana, including cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Mobile, and New Orleans.

These zones face storms capable of wind gusts up to 70 mph, large hail, and isolated tornadoes.

A tornado watch is active for southern and eastern Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and western and northern Georgia until 6 p.m. ET.

The watch encompasses 8 million people, including Atlanta, Montgomery, and Mobile.

A potent storm line progressing east from Alabama could result in several tornadoes and scattered severe winds up to 70 mph.

Any tornadoes forming on Sunday will mark the 11th continuous day with reported tornadoes nationwide.

NWS damage survey teams have provided preliminary ratings for at least 31 tornadoes across eight states since the outbreak began on Wednesday. So far, they’re confirmed three EF3 tornadoes, out of an EF5 scale, in Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas.

PowerOutage.us reported over 56,200 power outages in the Central U.S. on Sunday afternoon, with Arkansas being the hardest hit, experiencing nearly 75,000 outages overnight.