January 5, 2005
Ohio
River Likely to Crest Near Flood Stage
Louisville, region seeing steady rain
Sheldon
S. Shafer
sshafer@courier-journal.com
Courier-Journal,
The (Louisvile, KY)
With at least 2 more inches of rain likely through tomorrow for the Louisville
area, the Ohio River should crest about a foot below flood stage on Sunday,
the National Weather Service said yesterday.
A flood watch for seven Kentucky counties near Louisville and 10
Southern Indiana counties remains in effect, and the Coast Guard has warned
pleasure boats to stay off the river.
"It's not safe for anyone to be out. There is a lot of driftwood and a
very dangerous current," Coast Guard spokesman Charles Bauman said.
The Metropolitan Sewer District will continue working to prevent flooding as
long as the river continues to rise, Executive Director Bud Schardein said.
MSD had all 16 of its auxiliary pumps operating yesterday. They are designed
to keep storm water out of the sanitary-sewer system so back ups don't occur
in basements in low-lying areas such as Beechwood Village, Bon Air, Hikes
Point, and parts of Buechel and Shively, Schardein said.
The river level at midafternoon yesterday was 16.1 feet at McAlpine Dam, 3
feet higher than 24 hours earlier. Flood stage is 23 feet.
The weather s ervice predicted that the river will crest at 21.9 feet on
Sunday. That would be the highest level since Jan. 8, 2003, when it crested at
24.6 feet, the service said.
If the river crests as predicted, parts of Cox and Waterfront parks
would be underwater, along with River Road near the downtown wharf, Schardein
said.
Its level probably wouldn't prompt evacuations along Waldoah and other beaches
off Upper River Road.
Carolyn Greenwell, the secretary at Turners-American Club near Cox Park, said
yesterday that the river has crept within 50 feet of some horseshoe pits. All
club activities are proceeding as scheduled, she said.
Schardein said MSD intends to operate at least two riverside pumping stations
today to prevent river water from backing into the sewer system.
MSD probably won't install floodgates or close streets unless the river
reaches 22 feet.
"It will not take much to push the creeks right back up again," he
said.
Weather service meteorologist Mike Crow said there is nearly a 100 percent
chance of rain for the Louisville area today.
FLOODING TIPS
Do not drive through water that has covered a road.
If you find standing water in the basement, make sure your sump pump is
operating or call a plumber. Do not walk into standing water in a basement
because of the danger of electrocution. Metropolitan Sewer District personnel
will check a home if the backup is coming out of the sewer.
Report road flooding and other flood-related problems to MSD at 587-0603.
For up-to-date rainfall information in Jefferson County, Ky., and three
locations in Southern Indiana, check online at www.msdlouky.org/aboutmsd/rainfall.cfm.