With record amounts of rainfall falling in west Kentucky this week, as well as some flooding in central and the east, Governor Andy Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron have activated a state of emergency and price gouging laws for the Commonwealth.
This allows the following:
— The bringing in of state partners.
— The mobilization of five Kentucky Emergency Management Area managers to needed areas.
— And the alerted status of Swift Water Search and Rescue teams statewide.
As of Thursday, no fatalities or missing persons had been reported, though multiple rescues did occur for people in vehicles of flooded roadways — but not swift water — and several homes in Carlisle, Graves, Hickman and McCracken counties.
During his weekly “Team Kentucky” update, Beshear said waters had begun to recede in several areas — but especially in Mayfield, where torrential downpours flooded lower parts of the rebuilding city.
He noted no requests for state aid have come at this time, but several road closures across west Kentucky still remain.
Power, meanwhile, is being quickly restored.
Five counties and five cities have declared emergency: Carlisle, Graves, Hickman, Lee, Fulton, Arlington, Bardwell, Clinton, Cumberland and Mayfield.
Beshear is expected to visit west Kentucky Friday afternoon. At 2:30 PM, he will tour flood-damaged areas in Mayfield while assessing damages. At 4 PM, he will be at Murray State’s Wrather Museum along with Calloway and Trigg leadership, to present funding for improved water systems, high-speed internet, tourism promotion, and local non-profit and law enforcement support.
