Statewide emergency declared after deadly Kentucky floods

Andy, who identified himself only by his first name and spoke on behalf of Kentucky state government, declared a statewide emergency after heavy rains and flash flooding that officials said killed at least four people and damaged roads and bridges across the state. "Rain is starting to move out of Kentucky," he said, while describing widespread damage and ongoing search‑and‑rescue operations.

The declaration, Andy said, lets the state marshal resources for search‑and‑rescue and recovery. "I've declared a statewide emergency that allows us to marshal all our resources to help our people during their time of need, especially during this search and rescue phase," he said. He added that damage assessments will follow and the state plans to seek both federal public assistance and individual assistance for affected families.

Officials reported initial counts of damage and disruption: at least four fatalities (the speaker said the Department of Public Health was being asked to confirm the tally), more than 63 water rescues and evacuations, roughly 320 homes in Madison County without water, and statewide power outages that had fallen to about 4,627 from a brief high near 10,000. Andy named several hard‑hit counties and specific local measurements of rainfall, including Cumberland County (over 8 inches), Hart County (over 7 inches) and Grayson County (about 5.5 inches).

The statement included immediate consumer protections and operational orders intended to aid residents. Andy said nine counties and several cities had declared local emergencies; the state activated its price‑gouging laws to prevent exploitation of flood victims and he signed an emergency order allowing pharmacies in impacted areas to refill prescriptions that had been washed away or became unsafe to use.

He listed mutual‑aid partners assisting search and rescue and cleanup work, thanking local fire departments — including Versailles, Anderson County, Winchester, Georgetown, Frankfort and Lexington — as well as Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Kentucky State Police air support, county emergency management agencies and state urban search‑and‑rescue teams. He also thanked volunteer groups such as Team Rubicon and the Ryan Hall Y'all Squad and encouraged donations to the Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund to support families facing damages and funerals.

Roads and bridges sustained heavy damage in multiple locations, the speaker said. He cited a washed‑out bridge on KY 169 (Cates Creek Road) at mile marker 11 — suggesting KY 1156 (Jack's Creek Road) as an alternate route — and reported an impassable bridge on KY 187 in Edmonton County, closure of Highway 68 in Edmondson for severe undercutting, and two blocked locations on US 62 in Ohio County. Motorists were urged not to drive through standing or moving water.

Andy asked residents to call 911 only for life‑threatening emergencies and provided a non‑emergency support line (1802552587) and the state website (goky.ky.gov) for up‑to‑date roadway and safety information. He closed by asking Kentuckians to support neighbors and noted that the state will proceed with damage assessments and requests for federal aid.

The Department of Public Health was cited as the agency being asked to confirm the fatality count; no additional agencies offered comment in the statement. The speaker said the state expected to move from search‑and‑rescue to recovery and assessment work in the coming days.