Flash floods tore through Kentucky on Saturday, killing at least three people in Madison County and pushing Gov. Andy Beshear to declare a state of emergency as rescuers worked to reach people trapped in vehicles and homes. Beshear also warned residents not to drive after dark and said he did not want to lose any more Kentuckians.
Coroner Jimmy Cornelison said three adults died in the flooding in Madison County, the hardest-hit place named so far. Beshear said another motorist was swept away and killed, though it was not immediately clear whether that fatality was one of the Madison County deaths or a separate case. One more death was suspected in Jackson County, underscoring how far the storm damage spread across the state.
The deaths gave the storm its weight, but the response showed how quickly it overwhelmed local crews. Beshear said the weather system dumped 6 to 7 inches of rain in some parts of Kentucky, and five counties declared local states of emergency: Bullitt, Madison, Meade, Mercer and Spencer. Emergency responders carried out water rescues from vehicles and homes, while five search and rescue teams were sent to the Madison County area and high-axle vehicles were used to reach stranded people. An emergency landing station also opened for flood victims at Madison Home.
There was still more than one crisis unfolding at once. Bullitt County reported a moderate dam failure and later issued an urgent evacuation notice for some residents in Lebanon Junction. Hours later, the county said flood waters may be starting to recede in some areas, but the danger was not over, a reminder that the worst of the storm had not yet passed even as some neighborhoods began to drain.
Many counties remained under a flood watch through Saturday night, with the heaviest rainfall expected to ease by 11 p.m. local time. The storm fit a pattern seen across much of the U.S., where heavier rainfall has made flooding more frequent and more severe. For Madison County, Ky, the immediate question is no longer whether the rain caused damage. It is how many more people were caught before the water finally fell back.
