Daviess County presents local state of emergency, coordinates shelters and flood response

Daviess County Judge Executive presented Executive Order No. 5-2025, a declaration of a local state of emergency for the county’s April 1–6, 2025 severe thunderstorm and flooding event, at the April 10 Daviess County Fiscal Court meeting.

The declaration, presented by Mr. Johnson, county treasurer, cites KRS 39A.100(2) as the authority that allows the Judge Executive to activate the county’s local emergency operations plan and waive procedural formalities to respond to the event. "Judge Executive is granted authority by KRS 39A.100, section 2, to declare the county to be in a state of emergency, such to activate the local emergency operations plan or LEOP," Mr. Johnson said.

The nut of the court’s update was the county’s immediate response: sheltering, sandbagging and public notices about closures. County officials said a shelter was opened at Owensboro Christian Church with cots and blankets available; officials advised residents who need immediate evacuation to call 911. For non-emergency shelter or assistance routing, county staff provided a statewide assistance line, (502) 607-6665, that will route callers to local resources.

Why it matters: county officials described widespread, historic flooding across the commonwealth and said the emergency declaration opens potential avenues to recover cleanup costs and speeds operational response through mutual aid and emergency procurement. The declaration also formalizes use of county emergency operations resources and public messaging.

At the meeting several commissioners and staff described local response efforts. Commissioner Caslen thanked private insurance adjusters and other volunteers who worked long hours. "I really appreciate what they've done," Caslen said, referencing local adjusters who have assisted residents after the storm.

Commissioner Marksberry emphasized sandbagging and volunteer efforts, and thanked the businesses and churches that supported response work. "One of the groups of people I want to thank is our insurance adjusters who have spent so much time and have been on call," Marksberry said. He also thanked Molzer (formerly Yager Materials) for providing sand for sandbags, and said drainage is the county’s most pressing long-term issue.

Judge Executive and staff relayed transportation impacts reported by state and local agencies: the Owensboro Police Department briefly closed the Blue Bridge after water went over the roadway on the Indiana side but later reported it open; the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) said it plans to close a portion of US 60 near the 6.6-mile point at Kentucky 279 at 6:00 p.m. that evening. Assistant Chief Luke Cecil of the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department was credited for early warnings that helped residents prepare for flooding.

Officials also gave local operational totals and logistics: the county reported distributing more than 20,000 sandbags and making jail crews available to support sandbagging and cleanup operations. One county official said a four-day storm produced more than nine inches of rain at that person’s home, underscoring localized heavy totals.

The declaration was presented as an informational item and does not require a legislative vote; the county recorded the executive order in the meeting minutes and entered the declaration into the permanent record. County staff said the declaration may allow the county to apply for state or federal reimbursement of emergency-related costs.

County leaders urged residents to follow official communications from the Daviess County Emergency Management Agency and to call 911 for life‑threatening emergencies or (502) 607-6665 for shelter or non-emergency assistance related to flooding.

The court closed the meeting after the emergency update and other agenda items.