Emergency officials say flood warnings in Henderson County will continue through the weekend and urge motorists to turn around when encountering high waters on roads.
The Henderson County Office of Emergency Management Friday afternoon advised that flood warnings in the county were in effect until 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
“Very heavy, torrential rain will continue to be expected with 4 to 6 inches possible through Saturday to further aggravate flooding,” OEM wrote on its Facebook page.
Additionally, OEM posted information from Nick Stallings, the Henderson County Engineer, who said low-lying areas in the county will likely get flooded.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if 80% of our roads have some type of water hazard,” Stallings said in the OEM Facebook post. “Remember mostly all culverts are designed, if they even have a hydraulic design, for 25-year rainstorm. So…. potentially all could be overwhelmed.”
County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider said Friday emergency officials are preparing to deal with people who may become trapped in their homes from the rising water. He advised residents who live on roads that typically flood to evacuate. “Now,” he said, “while they still can.”
As of the time of OEM’s Friday posting, Airline Road is flooded and impassible, House Bridge Road is closed and Ky. 811 from Beals to Reed is passible but with some ponding in spots, according to OEM.
OEM also listed roads expected to flood during heavy rains. They include:
1. Rockhouse Road
2. Toy Anthoston
3. Cheatem Toy
4. Hatchett Mill
5. Chaney
6. Birk City
7. Mason Landing
8. Bluff City
9. Spottsville-Bluff City
10. Alves Ferry Road
11. North Pleasant Road
12. Cario Lilies
13. Meahl Cates
14. Busby Station
15. Walter Road
16. Busby Denton
17. Smith Denton
18. BF Overfield
19. White Lick
20. Tapp Duncan
21. Lod Powell
22. Sulphur Springs
23. Kings Mill
24. Most of Geneva’s roads, all the bottom roads, at the end of Lovers Lane, Wheeler Road, South Pleasant Valley.
In the city of Henderson, Wolf Hills Road between the landfill and U.S. 41 has been closed. Additionally, Glover Drive in Lakeland Subdivision and outer Fifth Street in the Canoe Creek area were closed as of Friday.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on Saturday evening, numerous state roads are flooded. Those include:
- Ky. 136 between the 0-10 mile points
- Ky. 136 between the 21-21.6 mile points
- Ky. 268 between the 1-8 mile points
- Ky. 812 between the 2-5 mile points
- Ky. 1299 between the 5-7 mile points
- Ky. 1557 between the 2-3 mile points
- Ky. 2247 between the 0-1 mile points
- Ky. 2248 between the 1-2 mile points
- Ky. 3522 between the 0-0.3 mile points
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s website, the Ohio River at Evansville is expected to rise to 43.3 feet by 7 p.m. Sunday and will continue its rise throughout the week, cresting April 13 at 46.7 feet, which is just below what is considered moderate flood range. The highest ever crest at Evansville is 53.75 feet on Jan. 31, 1937.