LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Homes along pretty much every body of water are dealing with the direct consequences of this flooding across the Commonwealth.
In the Riviera neighborhood, rising floodwaters have forced some residents to leave their homes while others prepare for worsening conditions as the Ohio River continues to swell.
As of Sunday evening, water levels in the area had started to rise and flood the ground level of several homes, prompting homeowners to take urgent precautions.
“We spent about three days moving everything, getting everything ready, duct-taping the bottom of doors and the side of the house,” said Kenn Parks, who lives in the Riviera neighborhood with Tiffany Kovats Hill.
This is the couple’s first major flood since moving just steps from the Ohio River.
“This is the first time we are concerned,” Kovats Hill said.
Though their home is still about half a block from the flood waters, a small creek behind the property has become a major concern.
“A couple nights ago during the storms, it was halfway up our backyard,” Parks said.
While Parks and Kovats Hill still have electricity, their gas service has been shut off. Several neighbors are without both electricity and gas.
Wendell, a longtime resident, pointed toward a flooded stretch of River Road. He’s been through floods before, including one in 2018.
“Had to move out and move back in,” he said, adding that his plan hasn’t changed: “Same thing — moving out and moving back.”
Residents who have been temporarily displaced, others are using boats to get to their homes and monitor the conditions.
Elsewhere in the Metro, similar conditions persist. The Third Street ramp off westbound Interstate 64 has been closed due to rising water, and as of 5 p.m. Sunday, floodwaters had reached halfway up the lamp posts near the Belle of Louisville.
Kovats Hill had a message for the community: “Heed the warnings and please don’t drive through water,” she said. “And check on your loved ones.”
While Parks and Kovats Hill are ready to tough out the floods, they hope others across the state stay safe and prepared.
Louisville officials are continuing to track road closures and other flood-related impacts. For that information, click here.
