2009 Kentuckiana flash flood

U.S. natural disaster in 2009 May 2025 February 2025 38.254 -85.760 titlethumb|Flooding in Jeffersonville, Indiana during the 2009 Kentuckiana Flood On August 4, 2009, a flash flood occurred and impacted Louisville and portions of the surrounding Kentuckiana region as a cold front and mesoscale convective system moved across the Midwestern United States. The National Weather Service estimated that between 3 and 6 in cm in of rain fell across the city in less than one hour, breaking all previous one-hour rainfall records in the area. Most of the downtown area was underwater, with the deluge reaching 4 ft in deep in places. The University of Louisville and the Louisville Public Library's main branch each sustained millions of dollars in damage. On August 12, Governor of Kentucky Steve Beshear requested the federal government declare all of Jefferson County, Kentucky a major disaster area. Meteorological synopsis A slow-moving cluster of thunderstorms descended from central Indiana into south-central Indiana and north-central Kentucky.Evans Jeffry August 4, 2009 Severe Thunderstorm Watch 657 https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2009/ww0657.html September 5, 2023 Storm Prediction Center EN-US As the storm moved into the Louisville Metropolitan Area, it continued to strengthen as a torrential downpour inundated the area. Downtown Louisville, New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Clarksville were particularly hard-hit with water depth surpassing four feet in some areas, resulting in the first-ever flash flood emergency being issued for those areas.Herzmann Daryl August 4, 2009 IEM :: FFS from NWS LMK https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/wx/afos/p.php?pil=FFSLMK&e=200908041335 September 5, 2023 Iowa State University Iowa Environmental Mesonet en Creeks and streams quickly flooded many neighborhoods, and flash floods rendered numerous streets and areas impassable. Severe lightning and wind that accompanied the storm led to more widespread damage.Courier Journal, p. A-1 Rain continued throughout the day and ended in the afternoon hours of August 4. Impact thumb|Heavy rainfall in Jeffersonville, Indiana causing power outages In the morning hours of August 4, a severe thunderstorm watch was issued for far northern Kentucky, including Louisville, and central Indiana as a mesoscale convective system moved towards the Louisville area.Evans Jeffry August 4, 2009 Severe Thunderstorm Watch 656 https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/2009/ww0656.html September 5, 2023 Storm Prediction Center EN-US The National Weather Service also issued a flash flood warning for the city and surrounding areas for several hours due to new and heavy bands of thunderstorms entering the area.March 4, 2021 From the Archives Looking at Louisville's historic flooding https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/the-vault/louisville-flooding-history-ohio-river/417-28cccd0c-8b16-42fc-80cd-f56d67e719ea September 5, 2023 WHAS11 en-USHerzmann Daryl August 4, 2009 IEM :: Valid Time Event Code (VTEC) App https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/ September 5, 2023 Iowa State University Iowa Environmental Mesonet en The Louisville International Airport was closed and flights were diverted to Lexington, Kentucky until 1 pm EDT. Northbound Northwest Airlines flight 2871, traveling from Knoxville to Minneapolis, passed through the storm over Louisville and experienced severe turbulence, injuring two passengers and forcing the plane to make an emergency landing at Lexington.2009-08-04 Northwest flight hits turbulence near Louisville, 2 aboard hurt https://www.twincities.com/2009/08/04/northwest-flight-hits-turbulence-near-louisville-2-aboard-hurt/ 2023-08-27 Twin Cities en-US Several city parking garages were completely underwater, submerging numerous vehicles. TARC, the city's public transportation system, was paralyzed with most buses abandoning their routes. Debris, numerous automobile accidents, and abandoned vehicles caused I-71, I-64, I-65, and portions of I-264 and I-265 to shut down.Flooding History in Louisville MSD https://louisvillemsd.org/programs/programs-and-projects/floodplain-management/flooding-history-louisville#:~:text=On%20August%204,%202009%20record,portions%20of%20MSD's%20drainage%20system. 2023-08-27 louisvillemsd.orgBelski John 2019-08-04 Belski's Blog - 10 year anniversary of the Louisville big flash flood https://www.wlky.com/article/belskis-blog-10-year-anniversary-of-the-louisville-big-flash-flood/28601141 2023-08-27 WLKY en Surrounding cities, including New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Sellersburg, Indiana were also affected.US Department of Commerce NOAA Flash Flood of August 4, 2009 https://www.weather.gov/lmk/august_4_2009_flash_flood August 27, 2023 National Weather Service Louisville, Kentucky EN-US Additionally, most city streets were rendered impassable and several other important roadways were closed for hours. Across both Indiana and Kentucky, the massive amount of water entering the cities' underground viaducts caused a pressure build-up, blowing off a number of man-hole covers, which created dangerous road hazards. The WDRB television news studio had water rise into the building during its newscast, prompting a makeshift water barrier to be erected during the broadcast.Courier Journal, p. A-2 Lightning struck an apartment complex in the Hurstborne neighborhood, starting a fire that consumed most of the sixteen unit building. A second apartment in the west-end of Louisville was struck by lightning and destroyed by the fire caused by the strike.Courier Journal, p. A-5 The University of Louisville was among the worst hit, sustaining over $45 million in damages.Bullard Gabe August 12, 2009 Floods May Cost U Of L $15 Million https://www.lpm.org/news/2009-08-11/floods-may-cost-u-of-l-15-million September 5, 2009 Louisville Public Media enErdman Jon March 23, 2016 Flash Flooding Swamps Louisville; Missing Woman Found Dead in Car https://weather.com/storms/severe/news/louisville-kentucky-flash-flooding-april-3-2015 September 5, 2023 The Weather Channel en-US The main branch of the Louisville Public Library was under three 3 ft cm in of water, destroying tens of thousands of books and destroying dozens of computers which caused over $1 million in damage. The main branch sustained just over $5 million in damage and was closed for a month of repairs, outlying branches also sustained damage but to a lesser extent. Numerous other buildings went underwater and had to be evacuated including the Cancer Society, Churchill Downs and horse barns were under three feet of water at various points. The trackside barns remained above the water level and 35 horses were moved there. Water rose so high on the south side of Louisville that most cars parked on the street were completely submerged. Three local animal shelters were flooded killing at least nine animals. Most of downtown New Albany was under 2 to 3 ft cm in of water. Water rescues occurred in the city. Response Police and emergency responders began rescuing people trapped in cars and homes. No deaths or injuries were confirmed, and emergency responders from around the region were called in to assist in the relief efforts.Courier Journal, p. A-3 Over two hundred people were rescued from their cars during the course of the day, with about fifty people being rescued from their homes. Most people were able to escape rising waters to higher ground without emergency help. Assistance was also provided to the downtown area to help tens of thousands of people in leaving. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear requested Jefferson County be declared a major disaster area by the federal government on August 12, and also requested federal financial assistance.Courier Journal. August 12, 2009 edition. Section A-1August 19, 2009 Beshear Asks For More Federal Flooding Assistance https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32478294 September 5, 2023 NBC News en United States president Barack Obama approved federal assistance for flood victims. References Kentucky Courier Journal 5 August 2009 External links August 2009 Flood Collection - A selection of digital images of the August 4, 2009 flood, documented and donated by community members to the University of Louisville (Louisville, Ky.) http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090804/NEWS01/908040318/Storms+roll+through+the+area https://archive.today/20130119172707/http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090804/NEWS01/908040318/Storms+roll+through+the+area dead 2013-01-19 Courier Journal http://whas.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=283307&article=5829132 Kentuckiana Flooded WHAS.com http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=10843896 Heavy rains causing widespread flooding WAVE3 News 2009-08-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20090807025232/http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=10843896 2009-08-07 dead https://www.usatoday.com/weather/floods/2009-08-04-louisville_flooding_N.htm Flash flood swamps Louisville USA Today Jessie Halladay Deborah Yetter 2009-08-05 2010-04-23 Category:History of Louisville, Kentucky Category:Floods in Kentucky Category:Natural disasters in Indiana Category:2009 floods in the United States Category:2009 in Indiana Category:2009 in Louisville, Kentucky Category:Flash floods