Governor declares state of emergency due to flooding concerns

Monday, April 25, 2011, 5 p.m. — Gov. Steve Beshear has declared a state of emergency in Kentucky due to the rapidly rising river levels and the threat of new rain over the next few days.

Communities along the Ohio River are already experiencing flooding of low-lying areas. Some residents of the West Point community in neighboring Hardin County have been forced from their homes by the rising floodwaters. If no more rain falls, the Ohio River is expected to crest on Tuesday; National Weather Service radar at this hour shows another line of thunderstorms sweeping into southwestern Kentucky traveling northeast, bringing with it additional rainfall.

In McCracken County in far western Kentucky, a county official said the river level hasn’t been as high as it is currently since 1937.

In Nelson County, runoff and drainage from the heavy rains have caused erosion of some culverts and ditches. Additional rain will push creeks and streams out of their banks and quickly cover roadways. Never try to cross a flooded roadway — turn around, don’t drown.

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