Enhancing flood warning, mitigation, and resilience efforts in the South

Flood Prediction for Eastern Kentucky

In July 2022, 45 people died in eastern Kentucky because of historic flooding caused by intense rainfall. The mountainous region of the state is susceptible to flash flooding due to its steep slopes and narrow valleys. In addition to the loss of life, the area also experienced significant damage to vital infrastructure.

This region was already very vulnerable—Letcher County has a poverty rate 150% higher than the national average. To help protect these communities from future flood disasters, we’ve partnered with the Kentucky Division of Water to develop an online portal to enhance the region’s flood resilience efforts. The portal provides flash flood inundation, depth, and probability mapping data.

Real-time weather and user-defined results can now be delivered in minutes, which allows local governments and emergency management officials to make faster and more informed decisions. 

Now in place, the portal is helping to improve flood risk and overall resilience within Eastern Kentucky.