This story has been made free as a public service. Please consider subscribing to support local journalism.
Commonwealth communities are still facing threatening floodwaters as rivers and streams across Kentucky continue to rise following several days of rain.
Some communities have already seen its rivers crest Sunday and Monday, with the water exceeding its flood stage by multiple feet. Four deaths have been confirmed as a result of ongoing weather, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear previously said, with several regions to see worsening conditions in the next few days.
WEDNESDAY UPDATES: Ohio River in Louisville set to crest Wednesday amid historic Kentucky floods
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said the Ohio River is expected to crest at more than 35 feet at the upper portion of the McAlpine Locks and Dam near the Falls of the Ohio by mid-week, rivaling levels last seen in 2018. The lower portion of the dam is expected to crest at 68 feet, which could pose threats to west and southwest Louisville, officials said.
Here’s the latest information around Louisville and Kentucky.
More: Kentucky floods: Preliminary report shows EF-3 tornado damage in Jeffersontown
Jefferson County Public Schools will operate on a nontraditional instruction day again Wednesday as flooding continues to impact Louisville, district officials said.
All extracurricular activities and athletics are canceled.
It will be the district’s third straight day of nontraditional instruction, following spring break last week.
District spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said the flooding has rendered hundreds of JCPS bus stops unsafe and inaccessible, impacting thousands of students who attend more than 60 schools across the district.
Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed Kentucky’s fifth flood-related death Tuesday afternoon was a Bullitt County man.
Earlier Tuesday, Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings confirmed authorities had found the body of 50-year-old James Dishon Jr. in floodwaters off Lee Booth Road and State Highway 61 in Lebanon Junction. The body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for an autopsy.
“This has been a tough few days,” Beshear wrote in a Facebook post. “Let’s show everyone hurting that we love them and we’re there for them.”
Bullitt County authorities are investigating after a man was found dead in a flooded area Tuesday.
James Dishon Jr., 50, was located by law enforcement agencies and first responders off Lee Booth Road and Highway 61 in Lebanon Junction, Bullitt County Coroner Dave Billings said. No cause of death has been confirmed yet, as the body is set to be examined in the State Medical Examiner’s office in Louisville.
The Courier Journal has reached the Lebanon Junction Police Department for comment.
Jeffersontown City Council approved a motion to waive permit fees for businesses requiring demolition or repairs after an EF-3 tornado struck the area Thursday.
The resolution will waive demolition fees for three months and building permits for six months to provide some financial relief for the more than 100 businesses impacted by the tornado. Louisville Emergency Management operations coordinator Amy Rose said at least 35 businesses were significantly impacted or destroyed by the tornado, with 91 others potentially impacted by interruption to operations or damages.
Total damage estimates are still being calculated, but Rose said the property value assessment for 38 of the affected businesses totaled more than $100 million.
Jeffersontown Mayor Carol Pike said the city intends to help those affected by the tornado in the Bluegrass Commerce Park recover and rebuild.
“I want them to know that we care and we need them, whether anybody believes or not,” Pike said. “We need them, and we need this park, and they are the reason that Jeffersontown exists today.”
Rose said she has been in contact with the state about setting up a disaster recovery center inside Jefferson City Hall, which would serve as a one-stop shop for businesses to access recovery resources.
“These people are devastated over there, and they don’t know which direction to go in,” Pike said. “So we had to have something that was on the bus line and so we decided that City Hall would be the best place to be.”
Locations around Louisville are excepting storm debris and are currently operating as drop-off sites. The site locations are for tree debris and city residents only and are as follows. They will be open from 2-7 p.m. through Friday with hours slated for 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday.
- Shawnee Park at 4501 W. Broadway.
- Tom Sawyer Park (Enter from Tom Sawyer Drive).
- Charlie Vettiner Park (Enter from Mary Dell Lane).
- Highview Park (Briscoe Lane entrance).
- Fern Creek Park at 8703 Ferndale Road.
- Hubbards Lane Recycling Center at 595 N. Hubbards Lane.
- 535 Meriwether Ave.
- Fairdale Recycling Center at 10618 W. Manslick Road.
- Public Works Yard at 10500 Lower River Road (Enter from Bethany Lane).
Galt House Hotel officials have started processing refund requests for Thunder Over Louisville tickets and hotel rooms after the event was canceled Saturday,
The historic riverfront hotel is “working diligently to ensure that all refund requests are completed promptly and efficiently,” Chief Marketing Officer Lance George said in a statement.
“We fully understand the disappointment this causes to our community, as Thunder Over Louisville holds a special place in the hearts of many,” George said. “However, we encourage everyone to continue showing support for the Kentucky Derby Festival, which has worked tirelessly to create a series of remarkable events for the city.”
The Galt House has also extended its storm relief rate for guests impacted by floodwaters, George said. Discounted rates, which include complimentary self-parking, start at $119 before tax, the company previously announced.
“We hope this small gesture can help ease the burden on our neighbors during this difficult time,” George said.
Crews have found “extensive” flooding at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort after an initial assessment Tuesday morning following the cresting of the Kentucky River Monday.
According to a news release, flood levels at the distillery were the highest ever recorded and while floodwater levels remain too high for a detailed assessment on the impact, the damage is likely significant.
“Because Buffalo Trace Distillery has survived in its location on the Kentucky River for over 200 years, we have, unfortunately, experience in flood management and recovery,” Sazerac & Buffalo Trace Distillery CEO and President Jake Wenz said. “We initiated a preparation flood plan ahead of the surge. We were able to implement that plan late last week and are hopeful in doing so we will have mediated at least some of the damage.”
The distillery will be closed through Thursday at a minimum and additional updates will become available as damage assessments become clearer.
“Our hearts are with the rest of the community that has also been impacted by this devastation. Buffalo Trace Distillery will support relief efforts in the coming weeks to help Frankfort residents through this difficult time,” Wenz said. “We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated team members, consumers, city and county officials, and vendor partners who have offered an incredible amount of support during this time. And finally, please accept our regrets to our fans that planned visits to the Distillery this week.”
Tornado damage consistent with an EF-2 storm touched down in Washington County, Indiana, Wednesday night, officials with the National Weather Service in Louisville stated.
Preliminary findings were released Monday following storm surveys in the area. NWS officials also reported EF-3 damage on Ampere Drive in Jeffersontown earlier Monday. National Weather Service Meteorologist C.J. Padgett said Monday the survey team would work to determine the path of the Jeffersontown tornado in the coming days.
A survey team also visited New Albany, but said the damage from Wednesday is believed to be from straight-line winds.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg shared flooding updates Tuesday, about a day before waters are expected to crest in Kentucky’s largest city. Local officials called the floods “historic” and compared them to the ones Louisville faced in 1997.
As of Tuesday morning, water levels at the upper McAlpine locks are at 35.7. The typical water level is just 12 feet, Greenberg said.
Officials expect the water to rise at least another foot before it begins receding, with Greenberg saying this would be “a top 10 flood in Louisville’s history.”
Greenberg remained firm in the city’s decision to cancel Thunder Over Louisville, saying that Ohio River levels are still expected to be at about 30 feet on Saturday.
As Louisville reaches it’s peak water levels, the Louisville mayor encouraged the public to abide by all barricades and road closures. He also called on people to not go out into the water.
“These are not safe conditions to be in,” Greenberg said. “Please do not kayak, canoe, or boat in these floodwaters at this time. You put yourself and first responders at risk.”
Yesterday, Louisville first responders rescued dozens of people from Candlewood Suites and helped evacuate others from nearby apartments. Greenberg does not expect additional evacuations to be necessary. More flood walls have been installed at 8th and 11th streets since Monday, he added.
The city is already anticipating significant efforts needed to clean up from the floods, with crews from solid waste management to public works to first responders preparing to work overtime. Greenberg said there will be opportunities for members of the public to assist with volunteer work and that they should expect more information about how to get involved in the coming days as the waters start to recede.
Gov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday morning that so far this week, there have been 142 rescues across the commonwealth and 272 evacuations by boat, requiring the use of 87 boats. Included in the numbers are two in Frankfort and the rescue of more than 60 people from Candlewood Suites in Louisville.
“Again, the biggest concern that we have right now are cars driving through water, are people going around barricades,” he said. “When you do that, you not only put your life in danger, you put the lives of everybody who’s coming to rescue you in danger. We need people to wait this out.”
At least four people have died as a result of the flooding as of Tuesday, including the deaths of 27-year-old Lee Chandler of LaCenter and a 65-year-old from Trigg County announced Monday.
Beshear said the Kentucky River is cresting in Frankfort and is expected to recede in the coming days. Area residents should soon be able to access their homes and the pumping of water has been restored by the Frankfort Plant Board as of Monday night, officials said.
The wastewater services at the treatment plant in Frankfort are not currently operational, along with four others in the commonwealth, and 29 plants are on limited operations. Nearly 870 connections across the commonwealth remain without water with 22 utilities under limited operations.
Beshear said now that the worst of flooding has concluded in Frankfort, teams and resources will start to move west along the Ohio River in locations like Henderson and Owensboro and to the Green River. Emergency teams from Maryland are moving to Henderson and may look at starting operations in the area beginning Wednesday.
Many Kentucky roads have reopened with 457 remaining closed. Of these, 440 are near high water and 17 are closed due to rock or mudslides. Less than 2,500 customers are without power and more than 50 shelters are open to Kentuckians with 35 households sheltered currently.
Beshear said 357 members with the National Guard are offering aid with state agencies and numbers will likely to drop to about 200 by the end of Tuesday. Kentucky State Police answered 18,897 calls for service and there have been no additional reports of missing individuals.
More: Crews rescue more than 60 people from east Louisville hotel
The Kentucky Humane Society is lending a hand to various shelters across the commonwealth impacted by recent flooding.
Kentucky Humane Society spokesperson Andrea Mattingly said the organization transported 20 dogs to the East Campus shelter Monday from Franklin County Humane Society and Carroll County Animal Shelter to make room at the shelters for animals displaced during the floods. East Campus is currently acting as an “emergency hub” and is temporarily closed to the public.
The transportation on Monday follows the transportation of nearly a dozen cats to Louisville Thursday. Mattingly said Kentucky Humane Society’s KY Initiatives Director Kat Rooks received a call from Hopkins County Humane Society after the roof had been torn off their building the previous night due to tornadoes and strong winds that swept through the area. Other organizations from neighboring states and counties, as well as animal welfare groups, sent vehicles and crews to help relocate the animals.
According to a Facebook post, the Frankfort Plant Board Water Treatment Plant is operational after equipment was reconnected Monday night. While the intake pumping building is still surrounded by water, operators and other staff members helped get the location back to operation and worked overnight to fill the storage tanks.
The equipment was initially shut off Sunday night when water levels rose to a point that would impact the equipment used to pump water from the river. Customers were encouraged to limit their water usage and told services would return depending on the crest of the river.
7:20 a.m.: What’s the forecast in Louisville?
Tuesday
Sunny and mostly clear with a high near 48 and low around 30. North winds of 6 to 8 mph become light and variable.
Wednesday
Chance of precipitation is 80% with new precipitation of between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible mainly after 2 a.m. Cloudy with a high near 59 and low of 49 and south winds of 5 to 9 mph.
Thursday
Chance of precipitation is 60% to 80% with showers likely and thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. and through Thursday night. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67 and low around 43. West winds of around 8 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, but possibly higher amounts in thunderstorms.
Friday
Cloudy with a high near 53 and a low around 36.
Saturday
Sunny skies turns mostly cloudy with a high near 59 and low of 38.
