Mandatory curfew for Frankfort with Kentucky River close to breaching flood wall
USED FOR AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, AND FRANKFORT IS EXPERIENCING RECORD FLOODING WITH POTENTIAL FOR ITS FLOODWALL TO BREACH. W-L-K-Y’S MEGAN MATTHEWS JOINS US LIVE FROM THERE AND HAS MORE DETAILS AS RAIN CONTINUES TO FALL. MEGAN, HOW’S IT LOOKING OVER THERE? HEY, ALEXIS. YEAH. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK BEHIND ME, YOU’RE GOING TO SEE FRANKFORT’S FLOODWALL. NOW, THE ROAD THAT WE’RE STANDING ON IS CURRENTLY CLOSED OFF TO ALL PEDESTRIANS AND ALL TRAFFIC. NOW, I’M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE WAY, AND WE’RE GOING TO ZOOM IN RIGHT OVER HERE TO THE CORNER OF THAT FLOODWALL, AND YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SOME WATER KIND OF RUSHING OUT OF THAT. THAT’S NOT A BIG CONCERN FOR OFFICIALS THERE, NOT AIR TIGHT, BUT THAT IS GOING TO KEEP THE MAJORITY OF THAT WATER FROM MAKING SEVERE DAMAGES. NOW OFFICIALS ARE TELLING ME, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS THE BIGGEST FLOOD THAT THE CITY HAS SEEN SINCE 1997, AND THAT WATER THAT’S BEHIND THERE IS STILL RISING. THE FLOODWALL CAN CONTAIN 51FT OF WATER, AND THIS AFTERNOON, WATER LEVELS WERE SITTING JUST TWO FEET BELOW THAT LEVEL. RESIDENTS SURROUNDING THE KENTUCKY RIVER HAVE VACATED, WITH MANY WAKING UP THIS MORNING TO WATER QUICKLY APPROACHING THEIR BACK DOORS. SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS FROM AS FAR AS NORTH CAROLINA ARRIVED IN THE CITY THIS AFTERNOON, AND OFFICIALS ARE URGING THOSE IN AFFECTED AREAS TO VACATE THEIR HOMES IN PREPARATION FOR THE RISING WATER LEVELS. THERE’S PARTS OF THE DOWNTOWN SOUTH FRANKFORT NEIGHBORHOOD DOWNTOWN THAT AREN’T PROTECTED BY THE FLOODWALL, AND WE’RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE WATER COME IN THERE. SO BECAUSE OF THE SCOPE OF THIS AND THE PROJECTED CREST, THAT’S WHAT HAS US SO CONCERNED THIS TIME. NOW, MANY OF THE BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN HAVE CLEARED OUT AND SHUT DOWN. AND SINCE ABOUT 6:00, WE HAVEN’T SEEN MUCH PEDESTRIAN TRAVEL OR CAR TRAVEL ALONG ANY OF THESE ROADS. THAT’S BECAUSE MANY OF THE RESIDENTS IN THIS CITY HAVE WENT AHEAD AND FOUND SHELTER OR VACATED. LI
Mandatory curfew for Frankfort with Kentucky River close to breaching flood wall
Updated: 11:37 PM EDT Apr 6, 2025
Officials in Frankfort are urging people living in low-lying areas of Frankfort to stay alert as the Kentucky River nears its crest. You can see just how close the river is getting to the top of the flood wall in the player below.The river is expected to crest at nearly 49.5 feet, which is the highest recorded level in the city’s history. Frankfort’s flood wall can only hold up to 51 feet of water. Officials said they won’t know if it breaches the flood wall until it does but are maintaining a high state of readiness.The following areas are all at risk of flooding:South FrankfortNorth FrankfortHolmes StreetBellepointCompton Drive in Blanton AcresPolice officers have been stationed in these areas and are prepared to help anyone who needs it.If you live in one of these neighborhoods and can get to a safer place, officials recommend doing so.The mayor of Frankfort, Layne Wilkerson, issued a mandatory curfew for the city in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday night until 6 a.m. Monday. The curfew applies to all flood-affected areas.City crews are working to make sure all sandbags and temporary barriers are in place.Roads may flood and could become hard to reach, and water could also enter basements and lower levels.A WLKY crew said it is already impossible to use Taylor Avenue to the north bank of the Kentucky River, the part of the city where the Old Capitol Building is.Officials are urging anyone who may need flood-related assistance to call the EOC hotline at 502-352-2252.Those experiencing life-threatening emergencies are still asked to call 911.
FRANKFORT, Ky. —Officials in Frankfort are urging people living in low-lying areas of Frankfort to stay alert as the Kentucky River nears its crest.
You can see just how close the river is getting to the top of the flood wall in the player below.
The river is expected to crest at nearly 49.5 feet, which is the highest recorded level in the city’s history.
Frankfort’s flood wall can only hold up to 51 feet of water.
Officials said they won’t know if it breaches the flood wall until it does but are maintaining a high state of readiness.
The following areas are all at risk of flooding:
- South Frankfort
- North Frankfort
- Holmes Street
- Bellepoint
- Compton Drive in Blanton Acres
Police officers have been stationed in these areas and are prepared to help anyone who needs it.
If you live in one of these neighborhoods and can get to a safer place, officials recommend doing so.
The mayor of Frankfort, Layne Wilkerson, issued a mandatory curfew for the city in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday night until 6 a.m. Monday. The curfew applies to all flood-affected areas.
City crews are working to make sure all sandbags and temporary barriers are in place.
Roads may flood and could become hard to reach, and water could also enter basements and lower levels.
A WLKY crew said it is already impossible to use Taylor Avenue to the north bank of the Kentucky River, the part of the city where the Old Capitol Building is.
Officials are urging anyone who may need flood-related assistance to call the EOC hotline at 502-352-2252.
Those experiencing life-threatening emergencies are still asked to call 911.
