By WKMS Staff
Murray, KY – The National Weather Service in Paducah predicts two storm systems will move into the area tonight. The first system will begin between 7 and 10 tonight and the second will start early tomorrow- around. The storms are expected to be similar to last night's, with eastern areas getting affected first.
Forecaster Chris Noles said, "All risks are in play- tornadoes, large hail, damaging winds. They're concerned with the warm frontal boundary in Arkansas moving to the north and northeast. And then late tonight: Round 2- all three risks in play again."
The storms tonight will likely cause additional damage and add to the already flooded situation.
Residents of Smithland are being evacuated from their homes due to flash floods caused by last night's storms. Deputy Director of Livingston County Emergency Management Services David Koon estimates that one hundred residents have been evacuated since yesterday. Evacuees are being relocated to a tri-county shelter in Paducah. A temporary floodwall is being constructed in Smithland to lessen flooding. Koon says the Livingston County EMS working alongside the Livingston County Fire Department has placed twenty five thousand sandbags in residential areas in the last 2 days in response to flooding.
Murray Electric has restored power to most customers from last night's outages. They still have a few scattered problems throughout the city, including downed transformers and poles affecting half a dozen areas and an estimated 40 to 50 customers. GIS Coordinator Justin Holland says they're focusing first on areas that serve groups of customers, and then they'll attend to the individual service lines downed from house to pole. Around 3,000 West Kentucky Rural Electric customers remain without power in Calloway County, with a few hundred more in Graves and Marshall counties. As of 1:30 today, the Clarksville Department of Electricity was working to restore power to 6,000 customers still out.
Highway engineers have repaired a landslide along Kentucky 93 in Lyon County south of Eddyville. But Emergency Management Director Kenny Watts cautions, the repair is unstable and that section of highway is down to one lane. This is on KY 93 between the Holiday Hills Subdivision and Eddy Creek. The slide is attributed to saturated soil from recent heavy rain. Watts reports significant damage to Kuttawa Harbor, including one capsized boat and several more with superficial damage. He says, one dock partially separated from the bank and pushed out into the river. A listener reports several boats leaving Buzzard Rock, where damages were reported, and heading to Eddy Creek. Overall in the county, he says roadways are cleared of trees, though some roads are still closed. To his knowledge, most customers are restored of power. Watts urges people not to cross water-covered roadways.
The state of Missouri is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corp wants to intentionally breach the levee at Birds Point, something Missouri officials say will destroy up to 130,000 acres of valuable farmland in the area. The Corps believes breaching the levee will ease pressure on the levee protecting Cairo, Illinois. A decision on whether or not to breach the levee is expected soon.
Murray State University officials expect to open the campus tomorrow unless weather tonight causes additional damage. Winds last night knocked out windows and damaged the roof of one building on campus. Facilities management workers are making repairs and clearing debris from fallen trees. Community Relations Director Mark Welch says officials will hold a meeting early tomorrow morning to decide whether to close a second day.
U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield plans several stops in western Kentucky tomorrow to survey storm damage. WKMS will have more details on the Congressman's visit later. So far, Senator Mitch McConnell does not plan to visit any areas in far western Kentucky.