Four Dead in Kentucky Flooding; State of Emergency Declared

Four people have died in Kentucky as a result of flooding caused by thunderstorms, Governor Andy Beshear announced Saturday. He declared a state of emergency as additional rainfall was expected.

Flash flood warnings were in effect for parts of Kentucky and Indiana on Saturday due to the heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas in southwestern Indiana had already received between 4 and 10 inches of rain, with more possible. Beshear’s office anticipated up to 7 inches of rain in parts of Kentucky through the late evening.

The governor stated on social media that three individuals died in Madison County and one in Jackson County due to the flooding. The Madison County coroner’s office reported that two victims, a man and a woman, were found deceased inside their home after floodwaters submerged a section of Richmond, Kentucky, trapping residents.

Another victim was recovered from a vehicle stranded in floodwaters on Tates Creek Road near Lexington, according to the coroner’s office. Carlos Coyle, the deputy Madison County coroner, noted that search and rescue teams were conducting door-to-door searches in heavily impacted areas, some of which remained inaccessible.

Beshear also reported "significant roads underwater" in Madison County, with at least 12 state roads rendered unusable due to flooding. "This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth," he said in a statement. "As more heavy rain continues through late tonight, we need folks to remain alert and to avoid driving, especially after dark when there is limited visibility."

In Bullitt County, northwest of Louisville, emergency management officials advised residents on a rural road to evacuate as a precautionary measure following a landslide at a dam embankment. Officials confirmed the dam was holding and showed no signs of imminent failure. The area had received approximately 3 inches of rain over the previous two days, according to the National Weather Service.