January 15, 2005
A State of emergency has been issued for Paducah. The Ohio River is going to reach levels that will place many areas at risk. Some houses and trailers are already under water in Metropolis. Many towns and cities up and down the Ohio River are having severe flooding.
The American Red Cross has set up a shelter in Livingston County, Kentucky. I will be working out of that area. McCracken County has been put on alert. If we have to open a shelter in this community it would be tomorrow or Monday. Numerous roads have been closed because of the rising river levels.
The Wabash River in Illinois and Indiana has reached a new record. The last time the river was at these levels was in 1913! They are now ABOVE those levels. Incredible flooding from weeks of heavy snow and rainfall. Some towns can now only be reached by boat in Southeast Illinois.
We are feeding hundreds of people in Livingston County. Sand Bagging starts at 7 am and runs until late in the night - midnight last night.
The entire community of Smithland is at
risk. If the water breaches the sandbags and levee, that they have built by
hand, then most of the town will be flooded. I will be staying in Smithland starting tomorrow night and
will be there until after the crest. The greatest risk will come on Monday
and Tuesday as the water starts to near the top of the levee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FROM THE PADUCAH NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE:
FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PADUCAH KY
1120 AM CST SAT JAN 15 2005
...A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE OHIO RIVER AT NEWBURGH
DAM...EVANSVILLE...MOUNT VERNON...J.T. MYERS DAM...SHAWNEETOWN...
GOLCONDA...SMITHLAND DAM...PADUCAH...BROOKPORT DAM...GRAND CHAIN
DAM AND CAIRO...
BELOW IS SOME DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE OHIO RIVER...INCLUDING
CRESTS.
THE OHIO RIVER AT SMITHLAND DAM.
* 6 AM SATURDAY STAGE WAS 46.1 FEET AND RISING.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 40 FEET.
* FORECAST TO CREST AROUND 48.0 FEET TUESDAY MORNING.
* THIS WILL CAUSE MODERATE FLOODING. AT 48.0 FEET HIGHWAY 60 IN THE
TOWN OF SMITHLAND IS CLOSED.
THE OHIO RIVER AT PADUCAH.
* 9 AM SATURDAY STAGE WAS 46.9 FEET AND RISING.
* FLOOD STAGE IS 39 FEET.
* FORECAST TO CREST AROUND 48.5 FEET TUESDAY MORNING.
* THIS WILL CAUSE MAJOR FLOODING. AT 49.5 FEET THE FIRST GATE IS
CLOSED IN THE FLOODWALL IN PADUCAH.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a map of where Smithland is (Paducah can be seen in the middle there)
Smithland, Kentucy is about 15 minutes from the South side of Paducah. The
town is in Livingston County, Kentucky.
They have put the flood walls up
here in Paducah.
Here are a few photos that the NWS took yesterday.
Putting up the flood gates in Paducah
The Paducah Fire Department installs the flood gates
They are putting up the flood gates in downtown
Paducah, Kentucky
The Shadow Angel Foundation is donating monetarily to the Livingston County Disaster. We are also donating goods such as Coffee and food to the shelter.
Here are some of the photographs I took today while in Smithland.
Smithland, Kentucky
Emergency Management, Livingston County, Kentucky.
This is the First Baptist Church in Smithland. This is where the shelter
has
been set up. This is also where they are feeding everyone.
First Baptist Church in Smithland, Kentucky.
The pizza arrives for the troops :)
Feeding all of the volunteer workers and emergency personnel.
Debbie Thaxton and other volunteer workers prepare food for the sand
baggers and emergency personnel.
Debbie Thaxton - American Red Cross
Water approaching Route 60 - outside of Smithland, Kentucky.
Pumping the water out of Smithland. You can see the levee in the
background.
Pumping the water out from behind the levee that has been built to protect
the city.
Volunteers continue to build the levee higher.
THE BATTLE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN
The water approaches the levee on Saturday Afternoon.
This levee will be all that stands between the town being
flooded or dry ground!
Building the levee to protect Smithland, Kentucky.
Building the levee up higher and higher
The line of sand baggers
Caeser from the American Red Cross discussing the situation.
Pat Moore and Red Cross workers discuss the situation and what is still
needed.
So we have our hands full here in Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois. The crest (highest part of the flood) will likely come on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The river has several more feet to rise. We are also concerned about possible snow and rain over the next few days. Hopefully the will stay away from this area. I think we will be ok through most of the week (at least no heavy rainfall).
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Keeping 960 cans of coke and soft drinks from freezing in the Shadow. :) We are warming the garage to keep them from freezing. Will take all of the drinks over to Smithland this morning.
Leaving at 7 am for Smithland. Will be there most of the day and possibly all night. Will post some photos if I run back home.
Continue Flood Photographs CLICK
HERE
------------------------------------------------------
Email: beaudodson @ usawx.com (remove spaces)
