McKee Baptist church has taken on eight inches of rain in the basement and also lost a church van.
Flooding in some areas of Kentucky has been extreme like this photograph from the Richmond area. (Richmond Police photo)
Million Church in Madison County was destroyed by flooding Saturday. (Bluegrass Energy photo)
Managing Editor
McKee Baptist church has taken on eight inches of rain in the basement and also lost a church van.
Four people are confirmed dead after severe flash flooding engulfed areas of Kentucky on Saturday, according to officials.
Three of the deaths came in hard-hit Madison County, according to Coroner Jimmy Cornelison. The fourth death was reportedly in Jackson County.
Two of the deaths were suspected of drowning, according to the Richmond Police Department. They responded to a call regarding flooded homes with individuals trapped inside.
Several residents of flooded homes were located or evacuated, the police said. However, they could not make contact with anyone in one basement residence that was already underwater.
Rescue teams later found an adult male and an adult female deceased from suspected drowning, the coroner said. Autopsies will confirm the cause of death at a later time, police said.
The identifies of the victims have not been released.
Earlier Saturday, Gov. Andy Beshear issued a state of emergency after widespread flooding across Kentucky. He said more fatalities will likely be reported as another round of rainfall is predicted for Saturday evening.
Ten inches of rain were predicted in some areas as storms pound the state.
Bullitt, Madison, Meade, Mercer and Spencer counties and the city of Richmond all declared state of emergency.
Flooding in some areas of Kentucky has been extreme like this photograph from the Richmond area. (Richmond Police photo)
“This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth,” Beshear said. “As more heavy rain continues through late tonight, we need folks to remain alert and to avoid driving, especially after dark where there is limited visibility. We’ve sadly already received reports of fatalities that we are working to confirm, and we need everyone to stay alert and do what’s needed to keep each other safe.”
In a social media video, Beshear reported one person who was driving was swept away due to flooding.
“We’ve been warning about the storms of this morning and then later on this afternoon and evening, but they’ve turned out much more severe than most would have thought,” Beshear said in an emergency update briefing Saturday.
Rain was expected to continue until at least 11 p.m.
Five search-and-rescue teams were deployed to Madison County to help stranded residents, Beshear said. Madison House opened Saturday as an emergency shelter to aid flooding victims in the county.
Twelve state highways have been closed along with multiple county road bridges.
In Bullitt County, the Shepherdsville Fire Department, along with Nichols Fire District, have been performing water rescues since 6:30 a.m. due to flooding. Judge-Executive Jerry Summers declared a state of emergency.
Officials said several roads in the area are unsafe after eight inches of rain fell overnight.
The Bullitt County Emergency Management ordered residents on Cedar Springs Drive off Old Boston Road to leave their homes after a moderate dam collapse at the Rod and Gun Club.
Bullitt County EMA later said the dam was holding with no indication of imminent failure. “A portion of the embankment has experienced a landslide,” the agency posted on social media.
“If additional protective actions become necessary, affected residents will be notified immediately,” the agency said.
More than 8,000 homes and businesses were reported to be without power across the state Saturday morning.
Showers were expected to break up late Saturday afternoon before another round moves through until around 11 p.m. with more rain possible into midday Sunday.
Million Church in Madison County was destroyed by flooding Saturday. (Bluegrass Energy photo)
Areas in central Kentucky are already experiencing flash flood warnings.
In Madison County, the Richmond Police Department reported flooding in the area of Catalpa Loop. Drivers are urged to stay away from standing or rushing water.
McKee Baptist Church in McKee has eight inches of water in the basement and may have lost the church van. The area there is under a flash flood warning.
Million Church on Tates Creek Road in Madison County was knocked off its foundation.
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