APRIL 3, 2015
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY. (WDRB)
Heavy rains overnight caused flash flooding throughout the
Louisville area early Friday, leading to school delays and flooded roadways.
In a press conference Friday morning, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the southern part of the city received the brunt of the flooding. WDRB Meteorologist Jude Redfield reported 7 inches of rainfall overnight, with rain expected to continue throughout the day.
Early Friday JCPS officials announced a 2-hour delay, but later decided to cancel classes entirely. According to JCPS spokeswoman Donna Hargens, the new makeup day will be Friday, June 5. Numerous other Kentuckiana schools either canceled or closed as well.
There were 185 reported water rescues between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m. according to Louisville Metro Emergency Services spokeswoman Jody Duncan. There were 82 stranded motorists during the same time period.
KY 841 is shut down at the I-71 interchange. The closure is expected to last for a few hours while workers clear the road of water.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, KY 22 is closed at Springcrest Drive (mile marker 1.1) in Jefferson County. A culvert underneath the roadway has washed out due to the flooding. The road will be closed for an extended period of time.
In Bullitt County, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says KY 1417 (Martin Hill Road) is closed at the bridge over Knob Creek in at mike marker 2.1. Water is over the roadway and the bridge approach is beginning to wash away. The road will be closed for an extended period of time.
On Cardinal Blvd. near U of L, an SUV was completely submerged under water. We saw one driver go past the barricades into the high water, before turning around.
Flooding, as well as a massive fire at GE Appliance Park, also forced the closure of the Louisville Zoo on Friday.
On Friday morning, Mayor Fischer warned the public about the dangers of standing water.
"Please use common sense," Fischer said, asking drivers not to drive their cars into high water. Fischer also said there have been reports of drivers trying to circumvent barricades.
"That's not a good idea, so please don't do that," he said.
Sal Melendez, the spokesman for the Louisville Fire Department, said the department has deployed seven swift water rescue teams and has recalled personnel to ensure that the department is adequately staffed to deal with the flooding.
"If you don't need to be out...stay at home," he said, asking the public not to endanger themselves or rescuers.
Melendez said incidents are being prioritized and that firefighters will respond to top-priority incidents first.
The first floor the Guardian Court Apartments in Okolona was evacuated due to flooding around 6 a.m. Asst. Fire Chief Bill Mattingly says "we started it out as a voluntary evacuation but the water was rising so quick we went to mandatory on the first floors, voluntary on the second floors.
Residents were forced to grab what they could and wade through the high water to boats where they were taken to shelter.
Mattingly says more than four dozen people left the building.
"We have a TARC bus here, the Red Cross is here," Mattingly said. "They're getting ready to open up an emergency shelter, and we'll move the people over to that. Because it will be awhile before this goes back down."
Mattingly says firefighters were using two boats to evacuate residents and a third was on the way.
Pitt Academy, which is right next to the Guardian Court Apartments, was also flooded and classes were canceled.
Fischer said TARC buses are running, but they are delayed. Garbage pickup is also taking place, but it is also delayed.
In a press conference Friday morning, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said the southern part of the city received the brunt of the flooding. WDRB Meteorologist Jude Redfield reported 7 inches of rainfall overnight, with rain expected to continue throughout the day.
Early Friday JCPS officials announced a 2-hour delay, but later decided to cancel classes entirely. According to JCPS spokeswoman Donna Hargens, the new makeup day will be Friday, June 5. Numerous other Kentuckiana schools either canceled or closed as well.
There were 185 reported water rescues between 1 a.m. and 3 p.m. according to Louisville Metro Emergency Services spokeswoman Jody Duncan. There were 82 stranded motorists during the same time period.
KY 841 is shut down at the I-71 interchange. The closure is expected to last for a few hours while workers clear the road of water.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, KY 22 is closed at Springcrest Drive (mile marker 1.1) in Jefferson County. A culvert underneath the roadway has washed out due to the flooding. The road will be closed for an extended period of time.
In Bullitt County, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says KY 1417 (Martin Hill Road) is closed at the bridge over Knob Creek in at mike marker 2.1. Water is over the roadway and the bridge approach is beginning to wash away. The road will be closed for an extended period of time.
On Cardinal Blvd. near U of L, an SUV was completely submerged under water. We saw one driver go past the barricades into the high water, before turning around.
Flooding, as well as a massive fire at GE Appliance Park, also forced the closure of the Louisville Zoo on Friday.
On Friday morning, Mayor Fischer warned the public about the dangers of standing water.
"Please use common sense," Fischer said, asking drivers not to drive their cars into high water. Fischer also said there have been reports of drivers trying to circumvent barricades.
"That's not a good idea, so please don't do that," he said.
Sal Melendez, the spokesman for the Louisville Fire Department, said the department has deployed seven swift water rescue teams and has recalled personnel to ensure that the department is adequately staffed to deal with the flooding.
"If you don't need to be out...stay at home," he said, asking the public not to endanger themselves or rescuers.
Melendez said incidents are being prioritized and that firefighters will respond to top-priority incidents first.
The first floor the Guardian Court Apartments in Okolona was evacuated due to flooding around 6 a.m. Asst. Fire Chief Bill Mattingly says "we started it out as a voluntary evacuation but the water was rising so quick we went to mandatory on the first floors, voluntary on the second floors.
Residents were forced to grab what they could and wade through the high water to boats where they were taken to shelter.
Mattingly says more than four dozen people left the building.
"We have a TARC bus here, the Red Cross is here," Mattingly said. "They're getting ready to open up an emergency shelter, and we'll move the people over to that. Because it will be awhile before this goes back down."
Mattingly says firefighters were using two boats to evacuate residents and a third was on the way.
Pitt Academy, which is right next to the Guardian Court Apartments, was also flooded and classes were canceled.
Fischer said TARC buses are running, but they are delayed. Garbage pickup is also taking place, but it is also delayed.