By Angela Hatton
Benton, KY – Nearly 600 Kentucky National Guardsmen are working in six western Kentucky counties as flood waters reach their crest this morning in many communities. The guard is patrolling floodwalls, shoring up levees, and checking on those stranded by floodwaters. Engineers and emergency response teams are monitoring the Hickman and Smithland levees for signs of failure or breach. Historic lake levels have been reported across the Commonwealth, and some controlled releases are underway at Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. The state is still waiting for a response to a request for a major disaster declaration from President Obama.