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Update: Dozens Rescued In Louisville As Flood Waters Rise

MSD Raising Flood Gates
MSD Raising Flood Gates

9:45am update:

I-64 at Grinstead Drive has re-opened.

7:30am update:

Louisville Division of Fire crews have received more than 100 calls for assistance over the past 24 hours and have rescued dozens of people from vehicles and homes.  From the Division's Sal Melendez:
Since 8:00am yesterday to now, Division of Fire crews have responded over 100 water rescue-related calls in the urban district, these calls range from people trapped in their vehicles and homes, and stranded in high water areas; leading to the rescue of over 50 individuals. Louisville Fire has deployed 7 water rescue teams (small boats) throughout the day to meet needs of the number of calls for assistance caused by the heavy rainfall. No injuries or fatalities have been reported from any of these incidents.

High water has closed numerous roads across the area. Interstate 64 was closed in both directions this morning at mile marker 7.2 near Grinstead Drive due to high water.

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More flood gates have been assembled as rain continues pouring on the Louisville area and the Ohio River continues to rise.

Heavy rain this week has caused widespread flooding across the Louisville area, with water getting into homes and businesses and causing numerous road closures.

Metropolitan Sewer District spokeswoman Sheryl Lauder said workers assembled flood gates at 2nd Street and at Bingham Way Saturday, shielding the city if water levels rise above 34 feet.

“It’s all going to plan and there aren’t any problems. That can always change, but right now we’re good,” Lauder said. “Everything’s functioning as it was designed to.”

More employees at MSD’s call center are working to screen for calls of flooding or water back-ups, Lauder said, and crews are surveying problem areas to ensure they drain properly.

Flooding forced some Louisville Water Co. employees to boat to work Friday.

Governor Matt Bevin also declared a state-wide emergency as heavy rain continues to fall on the rest of the commonwealth.

Lauder said the Ohio River should crest on Monday. Those who want to report flooding problems should call MSD at 502-540-6000.

Elsewhere, an emergency response center has been activated in Frankfort to deal with conditions statewide.

 

 

Kyeland Jackson is an Associate Producer for WFPL News.