LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Heavy rain across Appalachia has led to water rescues, mudslides, road closures and power outages, officials said.

What You Need To Know

  • Heavy rain in Kentucky led to water resuces, mudslides, road closures, and power outages

  • KY cities saw record rainfall on Sunday

  • Gov. Andy Bshear declared a state of emergency on Sunday

  • Road closures still in place across the Commonwealth

On Sunday evening, Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency due to the heavy rainfall. The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is activated and monitoring reports from county emergency services agencies, according to a release from the Governor's Office.

“By declaring a state of emergency, we can mobilize the state resources needed to support the cities and counties affected by this heavy rainfall,” said Beshear. “We are acting swiftly to ensure the safety and security of Kentucky families and to get the needed help to our communities.”

As of Monday morning, a total of 13 counties and cities declared states of emergency, including Breathitt, Calloway, Casey, Elliot, Estill, Johnson, Knott, Owsley, Perry, Magoffin, and Pike counties and the cities of Paintsville and Salyersville.

The Kentucky National Guard has also been activated and is responding to assist with high water emergencies.

“The impact of extremely heavy rainfall and flash flooding across the commonwealth led to numerous emergency rescues and evacuations in counties from west to east,” said Michael Dossett, director of KYEM. “The Governor’s state of emergency activated the National Guard, and we have been coordinating requests for assistance from counties across the state.”

Evacuations took place at Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation in Magoffin County. The facility decided to evacuate residents to assure they remain safe, CEO Joshua L Calhoun said in a statement to WYMT-TV. He said residents were being taken to either a middle school or a hospital.

“While we do not have any water in the facility at this time and it is still accessible, due to the risk of flooding we made the decision to relocate,” he said.

Multiple water rescues were reported in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, authorities said.

In Kentucky, Wolfe County Sheriff Chris Carson rescued four adults and a toddler from a vehicle trapped in flood water by using a tractor with a front end loader, according to the sheriff’s Facebook page. Carson was able to get the people in the bucket and then to safety, the post said.

The Lexington Fire Department also said its crews have responded to multiple water rescues Monday morning near the Kentucky River with no injuries reported.

High water and mudslides were blocking roadways in West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, where flood warnings remained in effect Monday morning, the National Weather Service said.

Some schools were closed or delayed classes due to flooding concerns and about 23,000 customers were without power in Kentucky and West Virginia, according to poweroutages.us, a utility tracking service.

Road Closures

While the rain has moved out, flooding continues to cause issues, especially for travelers. Check below for road closures in your area.

Louisville Area

As of Monday morning, the following roads were closed in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District 5, which covers Bullitt, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties:

  • Bullitt County: 

KY 480 (Cedar Grove Road) closed from mile marker 9 (near CR 1634) to mile marker 11 (near Grigsby Lane).

  • Henry County:

KY 1360 (Franklinton Road) closed from mile marker 5.1 (Penny Winkle Road) to mile marker 6.8 (KY 202).

  • Spencer County: 

KY 2885 (West River Road) closed at mile marker 2.6 (bridge over Simpson Creek). 

KY 2885 (West River Road) closed at mile marker 6.

Northern Kentucky Area

In KYTC's District 6, which covers Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Kenton, Owen, Pendleton, and Robertson counties in Northern Kentucky, the following roads were closed Monday morning due to high water:

Lexington Area

As of Sunday night, road closures and high water impacted District 7, which covers Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Clark, Fayette, Garrard, Jessamine, Madison, Mercer, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford counties.

  • Madison County:
  • Scott County: 

Bowling Green Area

The following routes were blocked as of Monday morning due to flooding in KYTC's District 3, which covers Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, Todd, and Warren counties:

  • Barren County

KY 740-  Closed at Beaver Creek at mile point 2.1.

U.S. 68- Closed at the Barren/Warren County line.

KY 3179-  Closed at Peter Creek near mile point 2.1.

  • Butler County

KY 403- Closed at mile point 4. 

KY 1435- Closed at mile point 1.

  • Logan County

KY 1153- Closed at mile point 4.2

KY 107- Closed at mile point 5.1

KY 3201- Closed at mile Point 0.5

U.S. 79 South- Closed at mile point 5.3

KY 106- Closed at mile point 9.4

  • Monroe County

KY 678- Closed at mile point 8.5

Ferry- The ferry is closed due to flooding.

  • Simpson County

KY 2593- Closed at mile point 1

  • Warren County

KY 1435- Closed in two spots. Closed at mile point 11 and 9.

U.S. 68-  Closed at the Warren/Barren County line

KY 1083- Closed near mile point 2.5

U.S. 231- Closed near mile marker 21

KYTC provides traffic and roadway updates online.

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