Flooding in Kentucky, February 9 to 28, 2019

Major flooding on the Ohio River closed numerous county roads and a few state roads. U.S. Highway 60/62 was closed from Wickliffe to the Ohio River bridge to Cairo, Illinois. This road serves as a primary link between Kentucky and Illinois. A detour of about 80 miles was required for commuters in the area. Many hunting cabins in the river bottoms were flooded, but only a small number of houses (fewer than 20) were affected. The Ballard Wildlife Management Area was closed. The Ohio River crested at 53.27 feet at Paducah on the 25th. This was the highest crest since the historic 2011 flood, and tied for the second highest crest since the Flood of 1937 at Paducah.

Moderate flooding occurred on the Green River. At the Paradise river gage, the river crested at 393.54 feet on the 28th. Flood stage there is 380 feet. Some local roads were closed, and considerable flooding of low-lying woods and fields occurred. The river remained above flood stage into March.

Moderate flooding of the Ohio River occurred. At the Shawneetown, IL gage, the river crested at 48.96 feet on February 20. Flood stage there is 33 feet, and moderate flooding begins at 43 feet. The ferry from Hardin County, IL to Crittenden County was shut down due to high water for an extended period of time. Several state roads and numerous county roads were flooded. Backwater flooding along the Tradewater River affected areas near the Webster County line. Large areas of agricultural land were flooded. Crop losses were negligible since planting was not yet underway.

Moderate flooding occurred along the Ohio River. At the river gage at J.T. Myers Dam near Uniontown, the river crested at 49.56 feet around the 20th. This was well above the 37-foot flood stage. About eight state roads were closed, including Highways 667, 668, 1452, 1637, 871, and 1508. Large areas of agricultural land were flooded, but it was mostly dormant outside of planting season.

Moderate flooding occurred on the Green River. At the Calhoun river gage, the river crested at 29.91 feet on the 20th. Flood stage there is 23 feet. Several roads were closed in the flood plain. Thousands of acres were flooded in the Island, Rumsey, and Jewel City areas. The acreage was primarily farm fields. Since planting season was not underway when flooding began, there was little if any crop damage.

Moderate flooding on the Mississippi River caused flooding in the Wickliffe area. U.S. Highway 51 was closed near the Carlisle County line due to backwater flooding of Mayfield Creek.

Moderate flooding on the Mississippi River closed some roads. U.S. Highway 51 was closed near the Carlisle County line due to backwater flooding of Mayfield Creek. Most of the other roads were county roads in the flood plain.

A prolonged major river flood damaged about 50 homes in McCracken County. At Paducah, the Ohio River crested at 53.27 feet on the 25th. This was tied with the 1950 flood for the second worst flood since the Flood of 1937. Since 1937, only the flood crest of 2011 was higher. The flood crest reached 60.60 feet in the winter of 1937. Levee and flood wall gates were installed in the Paducah area. This action along with heavy rainfall in west Kentucky and backwater from the Ohio and Tennessee Rivers caused widespread flooding in the southeast part of McCracken County. Smaller rivers and creeks such as the Clarks River had nowhere to drain and kept rising with each successive round of heavy rain. A damage assessment indicated 35 residences sustained minor damage and 15 sustained major damage. Numerous roads were closed around the county, especially in the flood plain west of Paducah and the Clarks River basin in eastern McCracken County. Some of the largest state roads that were closed included Highway 131 south of Reidland, Highway 305 in West Paducah, and Highway 284 between Reidland and Paducah. A Red Cross shelter was opened in Paducah. The City of Paducah declared a state of emergency and installed most of the floodgates in the floodwall. The city's convention center was inaccessible for over a week due to its location outside the floodwall. A makeshift barrier was installed around the convention center to prevent flooding.

Moderate flooding of the Mississippi River inundated large areas of agricultural land. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assisted with the control of seepage through the levees near Hickman, where sand boils were a concern. Numerous county roads were closed, and about six state roads were closed in the flood plain. Most crops were not planted, so crop losses were small.

Moderate flooding on the Mississippi River closed some roads. Most of the roads were county roads in the flood plain.

A prolonged major river flood affected numerous homes and businesses in Livingston County. At Smithland, the Ohio River crested at 51.83 feet on the 25th. This was the worst flood since the historic flood of May 2011, when the river crested at 54.89 feet. The 1997 flood crest of 51.44 feet was similar to this crest. The primary focus of flood-fighting efforts revolved around the town of Smithland, the county seat. A makeshift levee was built along the river, requiring a multi-week closure of U.S. Highway 60 through town. The governor of Kentucky toured the site of the levee construction, which required the assistance of numerous state and federal agencies. Repeated heavy rainfall in west Kentucky and backwater from the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers caused widespread flooding in the southern part of Livingston County. Smaller rivers and creeks had nowhere to drain and kept rising with each successive round of heavy rain. Numerous roads were closed around the county, especially in the flood plain. Some of the largest state roads that were closed included U.S. Highway 60 in Smithland and State Route 70. Floodwaters came right up to the edge of U.S. Highway 60 at several locations from Ledbetter to Burna, but the road was only closed briefly when the river crested. The closure of Highway 60 outside Smithland prompted the closure of Livingston County schools for a day. The county school district estimated 50 to 60 students were directly impacted by the floodwaters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stopped all river traffic on the Ohio River at Smithland.

Moderate flooding occurred on the Ohio and Green Rivers. At the Owensboro river gage, the Ohio River crested at 44.5 feet on the 17th. Flood stage there is 40 feet. Low-lying woodlands and fields in the river bottomlands were flooded. In Daviess County, about three dozen roads were closed by high water. The closed roads included Lower River Road from U.S. Route 60 to Griffith Station, Rockport Ferry Road, Crooked Creek Road, and other secondary county roads.

Moderate flooding occurred on the Ohio River. At the Owensboro river gage, the river crested at 44.5 feet on the 17th. Flood stage there is 40 feet. Low-lying woodlands and fields in the river bottomlands were flooded. Numerous roads were flooded, including some state roads. Backwater from the Ohio River caused flooding near the mouth of the Green River, which flooded roads in eastern Henderson County. Flooded roads extended inland to near Hebbardsville.

The level of Kentucky Lake was raised to 367 feet, about 8 feet above the normal summer pool stage. Low-lying parks, campgrounds, and marina parking lots near the lake were flooded. Some lake access roads were underwater. The lake level was still several feet below the record set during the spring of 2011 flood.

The level of Kentucky Lake was raised to 367 feet, about 8 feet above the normal summer pool stage. Low-lying parks, campgrounds, and marina parking lots near the lake were flooded. Some lake access roads were underwater. The lake level was still several feet below the record set during the spring of 2011 flood.

The level of Kentucky Lake was raised to 367 feet, about 8 feet above the normal summer pool stage. Low-lying parks, campgrounds, and marina parking lots near the lake were flooded. Some lake access roads were underwater. The lake level was still several feet below the record set during the spring of 2011 flood.

The level of Kentucky Lake was raised to 367 feet, about 8 feet above the normal summer pool stage. Low-lying parks, campgrounds, and marina parking lots near the lake were flooded. Some lake access roads were underwater. The lake level was still several feet below the record set during the spring of 2011 flood.

Low-lying portions of the Calvert City area were flooded by the Tennessee River. Huge releases from Kentucky Dam contributed to the high levels on the river. Major flooding on the Ohio River caused water to back up into the Tennessee River. As a result, some of the industrial area of Calvert City was flooded. Primarily parking lots and access roads were flooded, but some storage sheds and buildings were sandbagged. Several residences were sandbagged, with water in yards and outbuildings. A few streets were closed.