The last major flood in Louisville, Kentucky, occurred on July 22, 2018. It was the largest recorded flood to impact the city, and included heavy rain as well as overflowing creeks. Over 30 inches of rain fell during the event and caused widespread damage, particularly in the south end of the city.
Over 8,000 homes and businesses sustained damage from the flood. Many roads were closed, and Louisville Water had to issue a boil-water advisory. The total economic impact of the flood was over $100 million.
Several areas in Louisville are still recovering, including Shawnee and Cherokee Parks, Tyler Park, and the Central Park area.
When was the last time Kentucky had a flood?
The last major flood to affect the state of Kentucky occurred in February 2018. This flood, which was referred to as the “Athens Flood” lasted for several weeks, causing substantial damage and resulting in at least two deaths.
The flooding was caused by prolonged and intense rainfall across the region, which completely saturated the ground and caused the rivers and streams to overflow. The highest crest recorded was over 33 feet above flood stage at the upper Kentucky River near Beattyville.
Numerous homes and businesses were damaged by the flooding and many people were forced to evacuate their homes. In the wake of the flood, over 200 counties across Kentucky had been declared eligible for public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Does Kentucky have a history of flooding?
Yes, Kentucky has a long history of flooding. As far back as the 1700s, documented floods were recorded in Kentucky, including the Great Ohio Valley Flood of 1937, which caused extensive damage to the state.
In more recent years, flooding has become a more frequent occurrence in Kentucky due to climate change, with some areas having seen extreme floods in recent years. In April 2020, an intense storm caused extensive flooding in eastern Kentucky, with over 200 homes destroyed and over 1,000 people affected.
The April 2021 floods caused even more damage, with an estimated 7,000 homes and businesses damaged and many roads and bridges destroyed. Furthermore, climate change is projected to cause more frequent flooding in the future.
It is estimated that by 2050, the number of events that cause major flooding in Kentucky could more than double. To prepare for potential flooding events, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has created the Kentucky Flood Risk Information System to provide citizens with up-to-date information on flood potential and resources for those affected by flooding.
How many homes flooded in Kentucky?
It is difficult to answer how many homes flooded in Kentucky due to the scope of the flooding events, dates of the flooding, and varying levels of severity. The flooding occurred in many parts of the state, as well as in surrounding states, in multiple bouts of flooding throughout February and March of 2020.
The flooding was caused by heavy rains, snow melting, and ice melting brought about by warmer temperatures.
The American Red Cross estimates that more than 5,600 homeowners have been affected by the flooding in Kentucky. Furthermore, the Red Cross estimated that approximately 1,200 homes have been completely destroyed due to the flooding.
Additionally, the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) reported that 28 countiest across the state were declared disaster zones due to the severity of the flooding.
Other organizations like Feeding America report that 67,000 households in Kentucky may have been affected by the flooding, including those who lost homes or were displaced by the flooding.
Overall, it is difficult to give a precise number of how many homes flooded in Kentucky due to the varying levels of severity of the flooding and the undeclared disaster zones. The most reliable estimates suggest that over 5,600 homes were affected, with around 1,200 homes destroyed, and 67,000 households affected by the flooding.
How long ago was Kentucky underwater?
Kentucky was underwater millions of years ago, at the end of the Paleozoic Era. During this time period, the area known today as Kentucky was actually covered by a shallow sea known as the Western Interior Seaway.
This seaway extended from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and even further south. It cut North America in half and divided the continent into eastern and western basins. In Kentucky, this period of freshwater inundation lasted for around 92 million years.
During this time, many fossils and sedimentary rock layers were formed. As the sea levels receded and continental uplifts occurred, the sea eventually retreated and Kentucky was exposed. The last time Kentucky was submerged in water was approximately 50 million years ago.
What areas of Kentucky were flooded?
The flooding of 2019 left a significant impact in many areas of Kentucky, affecting over 19 counties. The most severely impacted area was Western Kentucky, where five rivers – the Ohio, Cumberland, Green, Tradewater, and Barren – combined to create the greatest destruction.
Counties such as Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, McCracken, and Trigg were all affected by flooding. In the more Eastern parts of the state, counties such as Boyd, Greenup, Johnson, and Lawrence were also heavily damaged by flooding.
Some of Kentucky’s larger cities such as Louisville and Paducah were impacted as well, with numerous neighborhoods and businesses suffering extensive damage. Significant destruction also occurred in the Hidden River Estates neighborhood in Oldham County and in Johnson County’s Paintsville Lake.
In total, thousands of homes, businesses, and other structures were damaged or destroyed by water across the entire state.
Why does Kentucky flood so much?
Kentucky is located in an area that is prone to flooding due to its geographical features. The state is located in the lower Ohio River valley and the Appalachian Mountains, both of which lend to the risk of flooding.
The Ohio River is subject to heavy rainfalls during the spring and summer months and can quickly become over-saturated and cause heavy flooding in the state. In addition, several of the tributaries and smaller rivers that run through Kentucky have been known to swell rapidly and lead to flash flooding across the region.
The Appalachian Mountains to the east of the state also cause rainfall and runoff to collect quickly, sometimes leading to localized flooding. All of these factors contribute to why Kentucky experiences so much flooding.
When did the Belle of Louisville sink?
The Belle of Louisville sunk on Saturday, August 24th, 2019. The riverboat, owned by the City of Louisville, had been serving the community since 1962. On that day, the Belle had been in the midst of a cruise around the city’s waterways when she began taking on water and eventually capsized in a matter of minutes.
Crew members were able to evacuate without injury, and all passengers were safely rescued from the sunken vessel. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources have been investigating the cause of the incident, which was due to a malfunction in an intake valve in the starboard engine.
The exact cause of the malfunction is still under investigation. After salvaging the Belle in early October and completing the damage assessment, the Louisville Parks Board unanimously voted in November to restore the iconic riverboat.
The project is scheduled to begin in 2021.
How many people died in the 1937 Louisville flood?
The 1937 Louisville flood sadly resulted in the death of 76 people, spanning from Louisville to Brandenburg and as far south as Basheer, Kentucky. The majority of the deaths were reported in Louisville and Jefferson County, with 73 casualties reported in the area.
Among them were 24 people who drowned in the flood, 8 who died in boating accidents and one person who died due to tuberculosis aggravated by flood conditions. The most tragic incident occurred in the Clifton neighborhood where a family of five died in one incident.
Additionally, three people were killed in two separate incidents in Brandenburg and one person died near Basheer due to the severe rains. A total of 4,763 homes were damaged in Louisville alone, with the total cost of damage estimated to be about $20 million.
The death toll in this catastrophic flood was a devastating reminder of the destruction that Mother Nature can cause.
What part of Louisville did the tornado hit?
The tornado that hit Louisville, Kentucky on April 3, 1974, touched down in the south central part of the city in an area just south of downtown Louisville. It traveled just over 6 miles with wind speeds reaching over 140 miles per hour, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
The hardest hit area was the Louisville Airport where the tornado was classified as an F4 on the Fujita scale—the second highest intensity on the scale. The tornado destroyed several buildings at the airport, including the tower, knocked down trees and power lines, and damaged hangars and aircraft.
Further south, in the neighborhoods of Parkland, Shively, Highview, and Audubon Park, dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed by the twister. Hundreds of people were displaced and one person lost their life in the storm.
Thankfully, Louisville suffered relatively minor damage compared to many other cities affected by the 1974 Super Outbreak which spread across 13 states and left over 300 people dead in its wake.
Did the Kentucky tornado hit Louisville?
No, the Kentucky tornado that occurred on September 3, 2019 did not hit Louisville. The tornado touched down near the Simpsonville area, which is in Shelby County, about 13 miles southeast of Louisville.
The National Weather Service estimated wind speeds in the tornado reached up to 110 mph and affected an area of about 3 square mile. The tornado caused damage in several areas, including La Grange, Middletown, and Eminence.
Thankfully, there were no reported deaths or injuries as a result of the storm.
Did the tornado hit anywhere near Louisville Kentucky?
No, the tornado did not hit near Louisville, Kentucky. The tornado that occurred on August 4th, 2019 affected areas in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. According to data from the National Weather Service, its path traveled through the northeastern portion of Indiana, then through southwestern Ohio, before making its way through northwestern Pennsylvania.
Louisville is situated a good distance away from the area where the tornado occurred, so it was not affected by the storm.