Kentucky is set to see historic levels of rainfall this weekend, up to 8-10 inches, along with high winds + tornadoes. We’ve rounded ways to be prepared + stay safe before, during, and after the storm.
Get prepared
Mayor Craig Greenberg warned Louisville to be prepared for “all types of severe weather” this weekend, including strong winds, tornadoes, and flooding.
To stay up-to-date on all severe weather alerts in Louisville, sign up for LENSAlert. This Metro service will send texts + make phone calls with tornado warnings, flood warnings, and more. You can sign up online, download the Smart911 app, or text “LENSAlert” to 67283. Mayor Greenberg suggested having more than one source of these alerts — so do all three.
MSD teams are already clearing drains + culverts in preparation for the rain, and you can help.
- Call MSD at 502-540-6000 if you spot blocked catch basins or street flooding.
- Check your own storm drains and make sure they are clear.
- Move your vehicle to higher ground, if possible.
- Never try to drive or walk through floodwater.
The high winds may lead to loss of power and other damage as well. Take the necessary precautions and have spare flashlights, batteries, and non-perishable food on hand.
- If you spot downed wires or need to report an outage, call 911 for an emergency situation, or 502-589-1444 for a non-emergency.
- Monitor outages online or through the LG&E/KU app.
- Keep your cellphone charged as long as possible in case of a power outage.
Bonus: Learn about the 16 flood pumping stations, 4.5 miles of concrete floodwall, and 79 floodwall closures that keep the Ohio River at bay.
State of emergency
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency yesterday in advance of the anticipated severe weather. Here’s what that means:
- State laws against price gouging are in effect, meaning businesses can’t “grossly” increase their prices compared to just before the declaration. Report suspected price gouging online.
- The Kentucky Emergency Operations Center is active, which changes how Kentucky’s emergency response teams operate.
- The Kentucky National Guard is active and ready to respond.
- State funding is freed up for relief + response efforts.
- The Division of Emergency Management is authorized to request assistance from the federal, state, and local levels — that’s everything from the Red Cross to local donations.
- Transportation may be restricted — think: road closures and detours.
The governor said Western Kentucky would be the most severely impacted, with tornadoes very likely. The Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is still collecting donations, and be on the lookout for relief efforts after this weekend’s storms.
