Flooding in Kentucky, March 2 to 15, 1997

Record rainfalls from late Friday evening February 28 through Sunday morning March 2 and additional heavy rainfall on Tuesday March 4 caused the worst flooding on the Ohio River since 1964 and in some spots since 1937. Damage attributed to river flooding alone was at 115 million across Jefferson county Kentucky bringing the total damage across the county to 200 million including the earlier flash flooding and flooding. McAlpine Lock at Louisville climbed over flood stage late Sunday evening March 2 and crested at 38.8 feet on the upper gauge (flood stage is 23 feet) at 5 am est March 7 and on the lower gauge at 70.6 feet (flood stage is 55 feet) at 6 pm est on March 7. At other spots, at Clifty Creek, Indiana, the river crested at 460.9 feet (flood stage is 450 feet) at 7 am est March 7. At Cannelton, Indiana, the river crested at a record 52.3 feet (flood stage is 42 feet) at 2 am est on March 8. At Tell City, the river crested at 50.4 (flood stage is 38.0 feet) feet at 5 am est March 8. Some of the hardest hit communities were Louisville, West Point in Hardin county, Milton in Trimble county, Westport in Oldham county and Utica and Jeffersonville in Clark county Indiana. Among other things seen floating down the fast current of the river were houses and tractor trailers. A 39 year old man was found floating down the river near West Point. Barge traffic was brought to a stand still all along the river from Monday March 3. 29 miles of flood walls were installed around the Louisville metro area making it appear as a fortress. West Point is a town of 1,300 located at the confluence of the Ohio River and the Salt River. The Salt River reached the 32 foot flood stage just after 1 am est on Sunday March 2. It then crested at 40.9 feet at 1 pm est Monday March 3. The whole town of West Point was evacuated after becoming an island covered by water up to the roof tops in spots. The towns of Milton, Utica and Westport also saw the Ohio River cover them with at least knee-deep water from the Ohio.All in all, numerous roads across south central Indiana and north central Kentucky were water covered and closed from Saturday March 1 through Wednesday March 12. Many businesses were also well under water along the Ohio. President Clinton granted federal aid to all the counties along the Ohio river by declaring them disaster areas.Here are some of the damage reports across the southern Indiana counties: Jefferson county had 120 homes receive major damage. In Clark county, 500 residents at Utica and 75 residents in Clarksville were evacuated. About 100 homes had major damage. In Clarksville, flooding along Silver Creek caused most of the damage. In Floyd county, around 100 people were evacuated. In Harrison county, around 200 homes and businesses were damaged with 10 residents evacuated in Corydon. In Crawford county, Leavenworth and Alton had minor evacuations. In Perry county, 100 people were evacuated.