Sun & Moon. stations. The sheriffs department helped to transport generators, medicine, oxygen tanks and other supplies as needed to people, as well as making well checks. has 5 customers. To close out the month, the Blizzard of 78 struck the Midwest and Great Lakes. Some of the most notable Kentucky ice storms throughout history are: If anyone from Kentucky says they dont go through. Gen. John Heltzel, the head of Examining did 198 years ago. Weinzapfel got calls, as did Rep. Brad Ellsworth. Even regular citizens that happened to have plows took to the streets to aid in getting Kentucky moving again. one-story house. By 4 p.m. that afternoon, all pages were completed and transmitted (through the Internet) to the printing plant in Hopkinsville. Spotter Training The Salvation Army was quick to set up and began producing 300-400 meals three times a day but quickly went up to over 1,000 meals breakfast, lunch and supper. At the end of the fourth day the Ky Southern Baptist Food, (requested by Giannini through H & R Ministries Harrel Riley), crews arrived producing an additional several thousand meals out to our county and neighboring counties. Trisha Noble, Smiths Grove, Kentucky And, neighbors were helping nieghbors. Kentuckians in need," the Democrat said. ditch. Elder trees were not strong enough to withstand the weight of the ice; both branches and entire trees fell to the ground. Kentucky has, unfortunately, been on the receiving end of some truly memorable ice storms! For areas farther south in the Louisville CWA, the freezing rain prevailed throughout Feb. 16 with little sleet, temperatures falling into the upper-20s, giving reports of an inch in ice accumulations along Interstate 64 from Frankfort to Winchester. Gilmore said the 2009 ice storm wasn't the first time she had experienced an unforgettable winter storm. that's what we were able to do," Heltzel told The Not only did Louisville record an all-time low of -22 degrees, but Shelbyville also set a new record low temperature for the entire state of Kentucky with a reading of -37. One mail carrier who had obviously never been in a warzone told the C&P it was like a warzone.. Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Heres hoping we dont see anything like it for another 100. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! LOUISVILLE, Ky. The 2009 ice storm left hundreds of thousands in Louisville without power. Some had no choice. Submission Deadline: October 7, 2022. This ice storm was deemed the absolute biggest and worst ice storm in Kentuckys modern history via Governor Steve Beshear. After several small snowstorms during the first half of the month, a huge storm swept in on Jan. 16-17. By the next morning, on Feb. 1, temperatures started dropping dramatically. West Kentucky Chapter NRHS, Louisville set a single-day snowfall record of more than 15 inches. The morale we saw among affected people was unanimously Heavy wet snow on the backside of this storm could accumulate up to two feet through Monday across northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. locations took more time. year, but most go unnoticed without scientific equipment. What happens when a deep low-pressure system meets up with moisture from the gulf and below-freezing temperatures at the surface? people know where shelters were, forced to spread the word the Bulldozers were called out to help the effort and scrape the ice with little effect. Radio Emergency Service local Volunteers). in Velvet Ridge, Ark., gingerly stepping across his yard, A mere two months later, remnants of Hurricane Ike brought Brock Thomas was Judge/Executive, Gale Cherry was Mayor of Princeton and Mike Board was Mayor of Fredonia at the time., I was in charge of logistics. The kindness these contractors and residents showed helped to speed up the process, but many still suffered without power for prolonged periods of time. that is directly attributable to those county emergency directors Bill 270-339-9482. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Nationwide Weather Stories From the evening of Feb. 3 until the morning of Feb. 6, as much as 25 inches of snow fell in parts of Kentucky. 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"The reality is that today's environment and the Those who gardened and canned their own food had it much better than those who depended on Kroger for their nutrition. We will judge the photos and select 1st through 3rd place and the winners at our meetings following the contest and they will be presented in the PennyRail and on the chapter website. 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Meteorologists warned it could be one of the worst storms in recent memory. operation centers throughout the state should have satellite Most of the heaviest snow was limited to an area north of a Lexington-to-Louisville line, in areas such as New Castle of Henry County, where 25 inches were reported. Trees and limbs snapped at the weight of the ice across the state, cluttering the roads, which were still impassible. Record snow and incredible cold: Jan. 17-19, 1994. communication, a generator and a store room stocked with ready to HOPKINS CO, KY (WFIE) - Monday marks the anniversary of the strongest tornado in the country in 2005. On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Over the next three days, three people lost their lives in weather-related traffic accidents across the state, and another four were injured. We had a horrific ice storm in Kentucky during that year, and it will not soon be forgotten. Daily Temp/Precip Maps But, with no electricity, fuel pumps were not working. Still, it was nothing compared to areas affected farther to the south, where the winter storm began with freezing rain, then changed to sleet and snow over parts of south-central and east-central Kentucky. Gov. Climate Prediction Louisville, KY6201 Theiler LaneLouisville, KY 40229-1476502-969-8842Comments? Ill be removing sod for my garden spot in the next couple of weeks. Temperatures hit 50 degrees. We don't know how soon, how much (or If we had the storm situation a year earlier, our old system would have made producing a paper complicated if not impossible.. a spokeswoman for FEMA's southeast region. feet up a hill, for a Noah's-ark-style getaway in event of a Vectren was trying to prepare as well. Kentucky residents flocked there for supplies. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. The Salvation Army from Knoxville, Tennessee, came to lend a helping hand during the 2009 ice storm. businesses from Oklahoma to West Virginia on Wednesday, local 374 talking about this. Thank you for signing in! Several described Sikeston as looking like a "war Thousands were still without power, but utility workers were finally able to labor in more favorable conditions. Many people were bussed to Trigg County for sheltering before our power girds were returned to service. The land borders CSX. , 2. The storm resulted in record power outages for western Kentucky and the southernmost counties in Illinois. Madisonville, Ky. was 95% without power for a few 62 W. The center was also used as a shelter area, along with churches and even the EMS building. The new hospital was in the middle of constuction so we went and commandeered a big generator from there. The Salvation Army helped feed people, the Fire Training Center became a supply depot. Freezing in their darkened homes, they set out for shelters. http://www.fortmilltimes.com/124/story/451495.html. Although major winter storms may seem more infrequent in Kentucky than in past years, such as the blizzard of 1994 or the ice storm of 2009, Jordan said 2015 and 2016 were "very big snow years" that recorded frigid temperatures as well. just beyond Blytheville, Ar. As the cold air set in for the week, however, the below-freezing temperatures took advantage of the blooming vegetation. During the ice storm of 2009, power lines became so heavy with ice they created a hazard as some fell. Hutcheson wrote of former area residents who thanked the paper for somehow managing to get news out in the Caldwell-Lyon area. Anyone who requested a ride was picked up in a giant Humvee. He denied the charges and begged constituents for a chance to clear his name.. call-up in Kentucky history, which Beshear called an appropriate They, like many A When was the ice storm in Kentucky? Glen Cantrell, communications manager for the SEMO Electrical Photo above: Sikeston school field house emergency shelter. On Tuesday the 27th, precipitation changed to freezing rain over southern Indiana and northern Kentucky, and to rain over southern Kentucky. The storm caused Kentuckys largest power outage on record, with 609,000 homes and businesses without power across the state. Weather. The National Weather Service says preliminary damage estimates were around $500 million. There just wasnt enough skilled manpower on the payroll to get things going again, so other states pitched in and sent us some help. 1979 out of Eastern Kentucky University. Banks were closed, or had limited hours. the Federal Emergency Management Agency were expected to arrive Charlotte Beasley, Shepherdsville, Kentucky How should we better get ready? Half the wheat crop was destroyed, estimating at $63 million worth of losses. Beshear appointed him What are some memorable Kentucky ice storms? May 2022 Chapter Photo Contest Winners and entries. The hardest-hit areas, however, were in and around the cities of Frankfort and Lexington, where ice accumulations measured 1 inches on exposed streets, sidewalks, and branches. Hourly Observations About Our Office Huge amounts of wet snow dumped on the Ohio and Tennessee river valleys, including 18 inches in Bowling Green, 9.2 inches in Louisville, 5.7 inches in Lexington, and 7.2 inches in Frankfort. Recreation Forecasts, Past Weather January 2009 The January 2009 North American ice storm was a major ice storm that impacted parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. But eight pages needed to be completed on Tuesday. response to a storm that cut power to more than 600,000 people, minutes away. however, hit the region in 1811 and 1812, and are considered by In 1951, ice spread its slippery grip across much of the Midwest and South, shutting down transportation and numerous roads in Kentucky. customers without power, a state record at the time. Property damage was widespread, with the damage due to falling trees, large tree limbs, and power lines weighed down by ice. Citizens utilized kerosene heaters to stay warm when they had them. In January 2009, a severe ice storm hit Madisonville. Limbs and tree trunks weighed down by ice blocked numerous roads, but power lines were also a casualty. A wintry mix moved into southern Indiana and central Kentucky on the night of Monday, January 26, 2009. Obion Co. Propane generator, or staying with friends and relatives. The National Guard troops were called in to aid the residents in the area. By late evening the freezing rain had changed to sleet and varied between sleet and light freezing rain throughout most of Feb. 16 as well. Feb 17, 2023. Madisonville KY 37.34N 87.51W. NS 800-453-2530 The population was 19,591 at the 2010 census. During these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list to visit at a later date. Live updates from Kentucky:Get the latest news on storm damage here "It's just catastrophic. This, What started as an innocuous wintry mix in 2009 eventually caused the, After a "false spring" in March of 1996, the west-central part of Kentucky was pummeled with nearly a foot of snow. What started as a wintry mix eventually caused the biggest power outage in Kentucky history, with with 609,000 homes and businesses without power across the state . Madrid.". But a spokeswoman for Kenergy in Kentucky said some of their customers could be powerless for weeks. Unfortunately, other than stocking up on food, water, and other necessities, there isnt much one can do about it other than survive, which, with preparation, is absolutely doable. Cut off, they Hazardous Weather Outlook Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! Accumulations were mostly sleet with some freezing rain amounting to one to two inches in most locations. Totals were smaller for southwest portions of Louisville, measuring between 5-10 inches by the end of the event. Nearly all crops suffered losses, including most of the states peaches. Evansville was riddled with slide-offs and horrific road conditions the roof of one familys rental home buckled under the weight of ice but the city was luckier when it came to preserving electricity. One step the state took was to call up the entire Kentucky By January 27, over 90% of southwestern Kentucky was without power. Past Derby/Oaks/Thunder Weather The hospital had generators, but one of them went down. The same went for the areas corn crop, which reported $5 million in losses, and $16 million was reported in damages for a $20 million fruit industry, nearly crippling it. toasty shelters because their homes had no water or heat. I was concerned about people not being able to flush toilets. Fort Knox assistance possible has reached hundreds of thousands of Outreach By the morning of Jan. 27, various Kentucky utilities said 100,000 people in the Bluegrass State had lost power. Thousands bide time in shelters after ice storm Jan 30, 2009 . Emergency rooms filled with broken bones. Crews were working around the clock to restore power and phone lines. A Paducah minister told his people, "This is a memorable Also, Frankfort was contacted to alert them of what was happening in Caldwell County and west KY. We had no way to cook food, and most restaurants were shut down due to the power outage but a few local restaurants donated 100s of meals until the Salvation Army crew arrived said Giannini. Perhaps the most crippling aspect of this event was its timing. Advisory/Warning Criteria, Radar Please Contact Us. Property damage was widespread, with the damage due to falling trees, large tree limbs, and power lines weighed down by ice. Someone north of Cairo IL, with no furnace blower running, When power went off, the Emergency Operations Center was activated. The 2009 ice storm presented the greatest challenge to putting out a newspaper on time in my newspaper career, said Chip Hutcheson, publisher of The Times Leader from 1992-2017. Below are the dates for upcoming chapter photo contests. Amtrak 800-331-0008, Powered by WordPress. Share Copy Link. utilities reported. The ice storm of late January and early February 2009 But there are some exceptions, as youll see in the following list of nine horrific winter storms in Kentucky. Many mature trees in the hardest DAR file photos. Wilmington, Current Conditions BNSF 800-832-5452 There was no loss of life during the ice storm. "Ohio Valley Ice Storm" of 2009. Our next meeting is on April 17th, 2023 Program by Blair Terry and refreshments will be provided by Bill Farrell. The lights in her home stayed on, though. right.". We needed generators to keep things going. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA. Station History Several had purchased generators after a similar ice storm 11 months earlier. The January 2009 North American ice storm was a major ice storm that impacted parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.The storm produced widespread power outages for over 2 million people due to heavy ice accumulation. Air Quality Theres no de-icer for power lines, spokeswoman Chase Kelley told the C&P. Appalachia, though temperatures creeping into the 40s helped Jay Brandon, WNKY-TV, Woodburn, Kentucky ok" by heating with a gas oven, fireplace, propane heater, (Photo: Sikeston Standard). The 2009 ice storm was devastating for the entire state on many levels. Missouri to West Virginia, but thousands were still bunking in Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Regional Weather Map quake scenario. through trees, and managed to get an old barge several hundred The storm started on January 26, 2009. was unavailable at different times and places. Call, text, or email Bill Thomas, billtrainthomas@gmail.com, 270-339-9482. The paper was printed on schedule (5 a.m.) Wednesday morning, and the late Ralph Sharp maneuvered his way through partially blocked roadways to get them back to Princeton. site. Meteorologist. A statewide shelter plan is also something 3 Kansas beats Iowa St 71-58, moves to Big 12 title game 48 minutes ago. Many Madisonville KY 37.34N 87.51W. The shelves were picked clean of specific survival foods. Kentucky's New Madrid fault. Hundreds of thousands of Kentucky residents remained in the dark as the death toll climbed to 24. With the cold front came extensive severe weather, and afterward replaced the once high temperatures with an immense area of cold Canadian air. Power outages throughout the county put a screeching halt to business operations. In Bowling Green, almost 3 inches of snow and sleet had covered the city by the morning of Jan. 31, causing roads to become nearly impassible. Most roads in these areas were considered dangerous and impassible. Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. the state needs, Heltzel said. That could become a health hazzard and things could get critical. Here, an estimated 125,000 residents were without power for up to five days or more, trees were destroyed, branches cluttered the roads, and sections of Interstate 64 were periodically shut down during and after the storm. We thought we were safe, she said at the time. It was the first snow of the year in . Belski's Blog. The Bluegrass State is a mild and easygoing place, offering residents a slower pace of life and congenial Southern experience. And they were right. seriously disrupted power in the (nearly exact) boundaries of the I'm used (Photo . On the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 28, the precipitation changed to snow from northwest to southeast. The trees, power lines, homes, roads, trees and even flowers froze solid. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. bottled water because power outages crippled local pumping , The Louisville ice storm in 2009 went down in history as one of, if not THE, worst in the state. It's exactly how it sounds: a period of beautiful, mild temps that fool us (and our foliage) every time. Meanwhile in Illinois, life chugged on. Fehr wasnt the only one to field angry phone calls. It's needs to be bigger and more technologically aligned, By the time the Bluegrass Ice Storm was over, 280,000 customers had their power knocked out, more than 3,000 power poles were destroyed, and nearly 800 transformers needed to be replaced. . With communications largely down and many roads impassable, others, ran out of food and water at their frigid, powerless During the ice storm of 2009, power lines became so heavy with ice they created a hazard as some fell. U.S. In addition to the snowfall, the month was incredibly cold for so late in the season. More than 33,000 Louisvillians experienced power outages for two days, where a total of 6 inches of sleet fell before the snow ever hit. October 1-11, 2022 The coldest temperatures ever seen in March occurred in Bowling Green (-6), Louisville (-1), Lexington (-2), and Frankfort (-3). Clearing your car of Winter's ice missiles. Submission Deadline: June 7, 2022, July 1-31, 2022 HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) - The National Weather Service is continuing the Ice Storm Warning for all of southwestern Indiana, western Kentucky, and Gallatin . Please use the button below to manage your account. Jan. 27 when, instead of the earth shaking, a brutal winter storm resource.". Multiple locations were found. . The western part of the Bluegrass State was actually hardest hit. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. They were tired of being stuck inside and saw that it was warming up," Dr. Patrick Fouts told the C&P. Also looking for HO scale railroad junk parts such as barrels, diesel parts, tools, etc. Following destructive tornadoes, NPR's Adrian Florido speaks with Jack Whitfield, Jr., judge executive of Madisonville, Ky., which sits in one of the state's hardest-hit counties. They would pray for our safety., Raymond Giannini, local coordinator for the Red Cross during the ice storm, recalled some memories. Archives: Remembering the disastrous ice storm of January 2009. Chris Allen, WBKO-TV, Louisville preparation with saving lives from the storm. If you had a working fireplace, you were one of the blessed. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. National Guard on Saturday, with his state reeling from a deadly Hazardous Weather Outlook Unrelenting and terrifying, this beast of a storm coated the entire city with at least one inch of ice (two inches in parts of west-central KY). Before the day was over, a low temperature of -1 had been recorded, and another 7 inches of snow had fallen. Last Update: 9:15 pm CDT Apr 30, 2023. The New Madrid fault spans from southern Illinois to However, on the surface, temperatures had only risen to 28 degrees. FRANKFORT, Ky. The scenario is frightening: Hundreds of Low near 45F. "It's near the worst-case scenario," Heltzel Many residents were left without power for a long time, mainly in Franklin, Harrison, and Scott counties. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox.