Severe thunderstorm-driven flooding in Kentucky has killed four people, Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday, as he declared a state of emergency with more rain in the forecast.
The National Weather Service reported that flash flood warnings remained in place Saturday across portions of Kentucky and Indiana as intense rain continued to move through the region.
By late Saturday afternoon, the agency said some areas of southwestern Indiana had already received between 4 and 10 inches of rain, with additional rainfall still possible.
In Kentucky, Beshear’s office said parts of the state could see as much as 7 inches of rain through late evening.
Greg Eans/The Messenger-Inquirer via AP
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Beshear said in a social media post that flooding had claimed three lives in Madison County and one in Jackson County.
“This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth,” Beshear 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.”
The governor said Madison County had “significant roads underwater,” prompting the deployment of search and rescue crews to the area. He also noted that at least 12 state roads were “out of commission” after being overtaken by floodwaters.
In northwestern Kentucky, just outside Louisville, Bullitt County emergency management officials asked residents of a rural road to evacuate as a precaution after a landslide at a dam embankment. The dam was holding and there was no indication of imminent failure, they said.
The area saw about 3 inches of rain in the past two days, according to the National Weather Service.
