Kentucky dealing with freezing temperatures after deadly flooding
Kentucky is dealing with dangerous cold temperatures immediately following a snowstorm and historic, deadly flooding. FOX News Senior Correspondent Jonathan Serrie has conditions from Fulton, KY.
PADUCAH, Ky. – More than 20 people have died in Kentucky as a result of the recent devastating flooding caused by a storm system that also caused deaths in other states.
Last week, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear addressed the challenges and the ongoing efforts to ensure public safety as significant snow fell across the state, with some areas receiving more than 8 inches. Eastern Kentucky was particularly hard hit, with heavy snow that hindered road-clearing efforts.
The snow came after devastating flooding across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia that left more than two dozen people dead. Most of those deaths happened in Kentucky, where officials said that at least 23 people were killed either from the flooding or the extreme cold that followed. Beshear announced the latest death Tuesday as a Graves County man who died from the flooding.
While the snow has subsided, communities in flood-ravaged areas are facing bitterly cold temperatures, making cleanup efforts more challenging.
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Tabitha Begley holds her dog, Tito, as the two are evacuated during a rescue and support mission in a heavily flooded area on February 18, 2025 in Leslie County, Kentucky.
(Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Jordan Wade, left, and Kelvin Gabbard made their way through the flooded waters of closed Main Street after high flood waters after severe overnight rain hit Beattyville, Kentucky, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. The pair were delivering groceries to friends stranded due to the closed road.
(Getty Images)
Cars park at the entrance of a flooded housing development after a rain storm on February 16, 2025 outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Severe winter storms brought torrential rains causing intense flooding in Kentucky and parts of Florida and Georgia.
(Getty Images)
In this aerial view, the Barren River floods around Kentucky Route 185 on February 16, 2025 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Severe winter storms brought torrential rains causing intense flooding in Kentucky and parts of Florida and Georgia.
(Getty Images)
In this aerial view, the Barren River floods after a rain storm on February 16, 2025 in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Severe winter storms brought torrential rains causing intense flooding in Kentucky and parts of Florida and Georgia.
(Getty Images)
Photo shows flooding in Rives, Tennessee, after a levee failed earlier Sunday.
(EM - Ballard County Emergency Management - Beau Dodson)
Aerial photos show homes and buildings flooded after a levee failed in Rives, Tennessee.
(EM - Ballard County Emergency Management - Beau Dodson)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This imaged shared by FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell shows flooding that occurred within Dunbar Cave State Park in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell)
This image from a drone video shows the scope of flooding in Kentucky on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
(Johnnie Nicholson via Storyful)
This image from a drone video shows extensive flooding near Levi Jackson Park in London, Kentucky, on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025.
(Johnnie Nicholson via Storyful)
This photo shows a rockslide that occurred on Interstate 69 in Dawson Springs, Kentucky.
(DawsonSpringsPolice/Facebook)
Flash flooding outside of Buchanan County, Virginia on Saturday.
(Angie McClanahan)
Rocky Gap, VA flooding
(Rocky Gap Vol. Fire Department)
Rocky Gap, VA flooding
(Rocky Gap Vol. Fire Department)
Flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee 2/15/2025
(Montgomery County Highway Department)
Flooding in Richland, Kentucky.
(City of Richland, Kentucky)
Flooding in Richland, Kentucky.
(City of Richland, Kentucky)
Homes flooded in Clarksville, Tennessee on Feb. 15, 2025.
(Clarksville Police Department)
Car sits trapped in Floodwaters in Clarksville, Tennessee on Feb. 15, 2025.
(Clarksville Police Department)
Flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee on Feb. 15, 2025.
(City of Clarksville, Tennessee)
Flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee on Feb. 15, 2025.
(City of Clarksville, Tennessee)
Flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee on Feb. 15, 2025.
(City of Clarksville, Tennessee)
Flooding in Clarksville, Tennessee on Feb. 15, 2025.
(City of Clarksville, Tennessee)
Photos from Hatfield, Kentucky, show Sunday's flooding versus Wednesday's snow.
The extreme cold also complicated ongoing flood recovery efforts, making road conditions treacherous and potentially delaying the reopening of flood-damaged routes. Beshear urged drivers to avoid unnecessary travel and to never drive around barricades.
Watch: Drone video shows Kentucky football field underwater
The National Weather Service extended a Flood Warning in eastern Kentucky on Monday after heavy rainfall caused rivers and creeks in the area to overflow their banks. As much as 7 inches of rain had fallen over the weekend in some parts of the state, the weather service said. Drone footage captured by Daniel Reeves shows a football field completely underwater in Williamsburg on Monday.
"You drive around the barrier, your car gets swept away," he said. "It threatens your life, but it also threatens the life of every person out there trying to rescue you in these really cold conditions," he said.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the storm impacted roads in nearly all of Kentucky’s 120 counties. At least 344 state highways were closed from flooding, 14 were closed due to mudslides and three were closed because of rockslides. Officials said that the biggest issues have been reported in western, southern and southeastern Kentucky from Paducah to Pikeville.
"About 2,300 Department of Highways personnel remain focused on restoring vital transportation links and keeping Kentuckians safe," Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said.
This photo shows a rockslide that occurred on Interstate 69 in Dawson Springs, Kentucky. (DawsonSpringsPolice/Facebook)
Despite the challenging conditions, progress is being made in recovering from the flooding. Power outages have been significantly reduced, and water service is gradually being restored.
The Kentucky National Guard has been mobilized, and Kentucky State Police have responded to thousands of calls for service, including numerous accidents.
Troopers shared a heartwarming photo of one of the youngest survivors of the devastating weekend flooding. The image below shows a mother and her infant being rescued by an aviation unit in Martin County on Saturday. The rescue was one of many, with 44 people and seven dogs airlifted to emergency shelters.
Since Feb. 15, the Kentucky State Police have responded to more than 12,500 calls for service related to the combined impact of the deadly flooding and the winter storm. Troopers continue to assist with water rescues and welfare checks in the most impacted areas.
Troopers shared a heartwarming photo of one of the youngest survivors of the devastating weekend flooding. (Kentucky State Police)
Beshear said the state is preparing to request individual assistance from FEMA, which could provide further relief to affected residents.
"We're not out of the woods yet," the governor acknowledged. "But folks, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. We get through this weekend going into next week, it's going to get in the 40s at least, and that's going to feel balmy for most of us. So let's keep pushing through."