Feb 17, 2025
Cars sit in floodwaters at a railroad underpass in Louisville, Ky., Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At least nine people have died in the most recent round of harsh weather to pummel the U.S., including eight people in Kentucky who died as creeks swelled from heavy rain and water covered roads.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday that hundreds of people stranded by flooding had to be rescued. President Donald Trump approved the state’s request for a disaster declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate relief efforts throughout the state.
Beshear said most of the deaths, including a mother and 7-year-old child, were caused by cars getting stuck in high water.
“So folks, stay off the roads right now and stay alive,” he said. “This is the search and rescue phase, and I am very proud of all the Kentuckians that are out there responding, putting their lives on the line.”
Beshear said there have been 1,000 rescues across the state since the storms began Saturday. The storms knocked out power to about 39,000 homes, but Beshear warned that harsh winds in some areas could increase outages.
Parts of Kentucky and Tennessee received up to 6 inches of rain, said Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster with the National Weather Service.
“The effects will continue for a while, a lot of swollen streams and a lot of flooding going on,” Oravec said Sunday. “Any time there’s flooding, the flooding can last a lot longer than the rain lasts.”
Ohio Valley spared from flooding
Water is staying within its banks and flooding is at a minimum across the Ohio Valley.
Ohio County Emergency Management director Lou Vargo said the predicted river crest is below flooding, and there is no flooding taking place in the county currently.
Marshall County also has no flooding as of today, however emergency Management Director Tom Hart said there was high water yesterday and overnight throughout the county, but the weather switched from rain to snow around noon Sunday.
“We’ve had some snowfall in the county this afternoon,” he said.
The crest prediction in Moundsville stands at 29.8 feet, which is below flood stage that stands at 37 feet. Hart said the concern right now is with wet roadways freezing back over and causing slick conditions.
While in Belmont County, Emergency Management director Dave Ivan said he hasn’t heard of any flooding, and as he drove past streams throughout the county, he described them as “well within their banks.”
Chief James Zusack did call for a level one snow emergency Sunday. A level one snow emergency indicates that roads are hazardous due to blowing and drifting snow, ice or slush. While travel is not restricted, drivers should use extra caution. Visibility may be reduced, and roads may be slick in some areas, according to the sheriff’s office.
The office suggests to drive carefully and allow extra time for travel, watch for ice patches, especially on bridges and overpasses and stay informed about changing weather conditions.
According to the Pittsburgh National Weather Service report, on the Ohio River the following locations will reach but not exceed the action stage: Steubenville and Moundsville. The following locations will exceed the action stage but remain below minor flood stage: Wellsburg and Wheeling. On the Muskingum and Tuscarawas Rivers, New Philadelphia, Newscomertson, and Coshocton will exceed the action stage but remain below the minor flood stage. Urichville is expected to crest just above minor flood stage on Stillwater Creek. On Wills Creek, Cambridge is expected to exceed the action stage but remain below minor flood stage.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey and West Virginia emergency management officials provided a livestreamed update on flood response in southern West Virginia Sunday night.
Morrisey, West Virginia National Guard Adjutant Gen. Jim Seward, and state Department of Homeland Security Acting Cabinet Secretary Rob Cunningham took to the social media platform X Sunday night as state and local emergency responders address substantial flooding in several counties.
“Over the last two days, the state and a lot of the localities around the state have been working around the clock to help our citizens to make sure that we’re doing everything imaginable to help West Virginians who are in need,” Morrisey said.
A state of preparedness proclamation Morrisey issued on Feb. 5 in anticipation of winter weather, heavy rains, localized flooding and freezing temperatures was still in effect. That allowed emergency planners to implement operation plans and mobilize personnel and resources.
“That actually was the precursor setting up the state for success because now the state has the ability to help every county that’s in need,” Morrisey said.
Saturday night, Morrisey issued a state of emergency for Cabell, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Logan, Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, Raleigh, Summers and Wyoming counties. Morrisey added Boone, Lincoln and Wayne counties to the state of emergency Sunday afternoon.
The Tug Fork River and the Bluestone River have experienced major flooding, while many streams and rivers have not yet crested, suggesting potential for further flooding over the next 24 to 48 hours. According to the National Weather Service, parts of the lower Ohio Valley and southern West Virginia saw rainfall amounts anywhere between 1.5 inches to 3.9 inches over a 48-hour period, with Seward saying that some southern counties reported up to 5 inches of rain.
More than 30 high water rescues have been performed, with the National Guard deploying its all-hazard swift water rescue teams to McDowell County.
Immediate priorities include rescuing stranded residents, restoring power to over 54,000 citizens and delivering essential supplies, such as bottled water. Morrisey urged residents to report damage via a survey at emd.gov/disaster and to prioritize local emergency channels for assistance.
Morrisey said the federal government, through U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has pledged assistance. Noem posted on social media Saturday night that she had been in contact with Morrisey and offered federal resources.
Kentucky faces severe flooding
Water submerged cars and buildings in Kentucky and mudslides blocked roads in Virginia late Saturday into Sunday. Both states were under flood warnings, along with Tennessee and Arkansas.
The mother and child were swept away Saturday night in Kentucky’s Bonnieville community, Hart County Coroner Tony Roberts said. In southeastern Kentucky, a 73-year-old man was found dead in floodwaters in Clay County, county Emergency Management Deputy Director Revelle Berry said. There were a total of four deaths in Hart County, Beshear said.
Josie Burkhart and Steven Allen Adams contributed to this report.
