Kentucky Deaths
In his latest flood update, Gov. Andy Beshear said the death toll has risen in the state.
"Since out update yesterday morning, we've confirmed two more deaths, bringing our total to four," he said.
The latest losses include a 27-year old man from McCracken County originally reported as missing, and a 65-year-old Trigg County man.
Watch and Wait
While not all rivers had crested as of Tuesday, some had —though hundreds of roads remain impassable. That's led local leaders to again stress the importance of not driving through standing water. Emergency officials say drivers attempting to do so have led to an increased volume of emergency calls.
For those who are safely home, Kentucky Emergency Management director Eric Gibson said those residents should keep one thing in mind before they begin the cleaning process.
"Make sure, if you're doing your own home, that you're documenting that in case one of the local officials show up to get those... photos of the damage that occurred at your property. Make sure that we can properly document all the things that you've had to deal with over the last few days," Gibson said.
Those affected are holding out for the possibility of individual assistance from the federal government after a harrowing week.
Officials diverted traffic, turned off utilities to businesses, and instituted a curfew in Frankfort as the river crested just short of a record Monday.
Attention is now gradually shifting to the western part of the state, which received even larger rain totals.
Dix Dam Confusion
Some questions remain about an announcement that caused panic on Sunday as the floodwaters in the Kentucky River were threatening to overwhelm floodwalls.
Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams took to social media and incorrectly reported that 10 spillway gates on Dix Dam had been accidentally opened and would push water levels higher on the Kentucky River. Adams later took to social media to correct the record, but maintained his information came from Kentucky Emergency Management.
"Somewhere there was a miscommunication to us and that was not true," he said. "There are gates open at Dix Dam, but it was planned, so I apologize for the misinformation but it is important that we clear that up."
The release was not an accident, but planned, according to KU and LG&E. It was part of safety protocol to ease stress on the dam and the effects had already been included in forecasts about river levels.
Adams told the Herald-Leader he received the information from two people on an emergency management briefing call, but officials say they are still trying to nail down exactly where the break in communications occurred.
Campsite Closure
Fort Boonesborough State Park has announced that its campgrounds will be closed through the end of September, due to major damage caused by the nearly weeklong flooding that pummeled the state.
The Kentucky state park is citing needed repairs to its power grid and facilities.
Anyone who already has a reservation will be contacted by Reserve America and and a complete refund will be initiated automatically.
The Fort itself will remain closed through April 23.