Kentucky Flooding Kills at Least Four as Heavy Rain Washes Out Roads, Bridges and Homes

Widespread flooding across Kentucky has killed at least four people and forced dozens of rescues after intense rainfall overwhelmed communities, washed out bridges and left homes, roads and vehicles underwater.

Some parts of the state received 10 to 12 inches of rain in just 48 hours between Friday and Saturday, creating dangerous flash flooding across several counties. More rain is expected to move east through parts of Kentucky and Tennessee on Sunday, raising concerns that saturated ground could trigger additional flooding.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency Saturday and urged residents to stay off roads, especially after dark.

“When it gets dark, it’s going to get even worse. So please, do not drive after dark if you can avoid it,” Beshear said in a video posted to X.

Four Deaths Confirmed

Beshear confirmed that one person died in Jackson County and three others died in Madison County.

Among the victims in Madison County were a man and a woman who officials said drowned inside a home that had flooded. Richmond police said the two were trapped in the basement of the residence, which was already underwater when police and fire crews arrived.

Authorities were initially unable to make contact with anyone inside. Rescue teams later entered the home and found the bodies of the man and woman.

Beshear also said one motorist was killed after being swept away by flash flooding.

“We know we’ve already lost at least a handful of Kentuckians. I don’t want to lose any more,” the governor said.

Richmond Hit Hard by Rising Floodwaters

Richmond, located about 30 miles south of Lexington, was among the hardest-hit areas.

Photos released by police showed officers blocking flooded streets and checking on stranded vehicles nearly submerged by floodwaters. Cars, mobile homes and businesses were surrounded by deep water as storms continued to batter the region.

Richmond Mayor Robert Blythe said major intersections in the city were flooded. He said he had received calls from residents worried about neighbors whose homes were filling with rising water.

The mayor said Richmond had, to some extent, been spared from some of the severe weather that had affected surrounding areas in recent years.

“It appears to be our turn,” he said.

A video appeared to show The Million Church in Richmond collapsing during the flooding. Earlier in the day, the church had announced that its Saturday service was canceled because of the storm, writing that it was praying everyone would stay safe.

Local Emergencies Declared in Five Counties

Five counties — Bullitt, Madison, Meade, Mercer and Spencer — declared local states of emergency, according to the governor’s office.

In Bullitt County, precautionary evacuations were underway in one area hit especially hard by flooding. Officials were also monitoring a dam that had recently experienced a landslide.

County emergency management officials said the dam was holding and that there was no indication of imminent failure.

Elsewhere in Madison County, Beshear said significant roads were underwater and five search-and-rescue teams were on the ground.

Bridges Wiped Out, Roads Closed

At least 12 roads across Kentucky were flooded and inaccessible, while numerous bridges in counties including Jessamine had been entirely washed out, according to the governor.

First responders, state emergency management teams, Kentucky State Police and swift-water rescue crews were responding to emergency calls across affected communities.

Dozens of rescues had already been carried out by Saturday as rising water trapped residents in homes, vehicles and flooded neighborhoods.

More Rain Could Bring More Flooding

Although the hardest-hit areas were expected to receive a smaller amount of rain Sunday — generally one to two inches — officials warned that even that could cause additional flooding because the ground was already saturated.

The severe weather is the latest in a series of destructive flood events to hit Kentucky in recent years. Earlier in 2025, deadly flash floods struck after more than a month’s worth of rain fell in less than 24 hours across much of the state. In 2022, catastrophic flooding killed dozens of people and swept homes from their foundations.

Beshear said the latest storms became “much more severe than most would have thought.”

As floodwaters continue to threaten communities, officials are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel, never drive through flooded roads and follow local evacuation guidance.

For many Kentuckians, the weekend has brought another painful reminder of how quickly heavy rain can turn deadly.