‘Be prepared to evacuate.’ Heavy rain causes floods in Lexington along Kentucky River
The southern portion of Lexington was hit with flooding after the Kentucky River overflowed with heavy rain, causing home evacuations.
Several homes on Beach Road needed to be evacuated Monday, according to the Lexington Fire Department. There was 4 to 5 feet of water surrounding the homes, Battalion Chief Jordan Saas said. The road is next to the Kentucky River. Two boats were dispatched to the rescue, Saas said.
The flooding resulted from more than 3.5 inches of rain that fell in Lexington over a three-day period, according to the National Weather Service.
The flood threat was expected to persist beyond Tuesday. Conditions could get worse for residents near the river, according to the fire department. The water was expected to rise another 2 to 3 feet, and not crest until March 3 or 4.
“If you live in the river area, be prepared to evacuate, with your pets, as conditions worsen,” the fire department said in a tweet.
The southern-most portion of Fayette County was still in a flood warning Monday afternoon.
No injuries were reported from Monday’s rescues, according to the fire department.
Lexington police closed the one-lane Old Clays Ferry Bridge, which is connected to Old Richmond Road and crosses the Kentucky River. State highway department crews brought barricades to block the road, police Lt. Ronald Keaton said.
Tates Creek Road also was flooded between Spears Road and the Kentucky River, according to the Lexington Traffic Management Center. The road wasn’t closed, Keaton said, but drivers were asked to avoid the area. The Valley View Ferry was closed due to high water conditions.
Ron Steve, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Louisville, said the weather service was “watching the Kentucky River for potential major flooding.”
“Basically, anywhere south of the Bluegrass Parkway there is widespread flooding,” Steve said. “The best thing I can tell people is be alert for road closures, don’t drive around the barricades, don’t drive into the water.”
The Kentucky River was expected to crest at over 39 feet in two different locations: at the High Bridge lock and the Frankfort lock, according to the National Weather Service.
This story was originally published March 1, 2021 at 10:28 AM.