Hurricane Helene Meets Kentucky

Remnants from Hurricane Helene are bringing heavy rains and strong winds to Kentucky.

Gusts of wind nearing 60 mph and three to five inches of rainfall is expected through early Saturday morning.

Several counties, including Boyd and Breathitt, have declared states of emergency. Governor Andy Beshear is worried about the strong winds and heavy rain. Local officials have reported fallen trees and some minor injuries.

As a result of these fallen trees, by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, around 225,000 homes in Kentucky were without power, mostly in the eastern part of the state. This represents about 15% of all households in Kentucky.

“We are pretty dry right now which means we can take a lot of rain, but this is a whole lot of rain,” Beshear said, considering the past week's drought and no open burn ban.

With the rain continuing, flash flooding is a real concern in many areas. Officials are advising drivers to steer clear of standing water and to take care while on the roads.

Citation: "Helene Hammering Kentucky with Wind and Rain." LPM News, September 27, 2024. https://www.lpm.org/news/2024-09-27/helene-hammering-kentucky-with-wind-and-rain