2025 — Feb 16, 8 inch rainstorm leads to flooding in Kentucky –10-14
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-18-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10-14 Blanchard: The Lexington Herald Leader of February 20 (see below) lists the names of
ten people identified as flooding fatalities. Five other deaths are noted which are not noted
as flood-related, but rather either “winter-weather” deaths after the flooding, or cause of
death not noted. It does not appear to me that there were 14 flooding deaths.
–14 Washington Post. “How a few inches of rain turned ‘catastrophic in [KY]…” 2-18-2025.
–14 wowktv 13 News, Charleston WV. “Death toll rises to 14 as Kentucky…” 2-18-2025.
–11 ABC News. “11 dead from storm in Kentucky as US braces for another…” 2-17-2025.
–11 CNN. “Death toll rises in multi-state floods as rivers rise…” 2-17-2025.
Narrative Information
Feb 17, ABC News: “At least 11 people died in Kentucky from a devastating storm that battered the state this weekend….Over 1,000 people have been rescued across the state, the governor [Andy Beshear] said. In Louisville, crews have conducted over 30 rescues in the flash flooding, Mayor Craig Greenberg said….The storm dumped over 8 inches of rain in Kentucky and Tennessee, and 5 inches of rain in Virginia….” (ABC News. “11 dead from storm in Kentucky as US braces for another cross-country storm bringing extreme cold, snow.” 2-17-2025.)
Feb 17, CNN: “Water levels were still rising on some waterways in Kentucky and other portions of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic flooded by a deadly coast-to-coast winter storm and now snow and dangerous cold is coming.
“The storm killed at least 13 people – one in severe winds in Georgia, one in West Virginia and 11 in Kentucky, which took on some of the worst of the devastating flooding in the region.
….
“More than a month’s worth of rain deluged much of Kentucky in less than 24 hours and set the deadly flooding into motion.
….
“More than 340 roads were closed in the state due to flooding, potentially a record amount, Beshear said.
….
“Beshear declared a state of emergency Friday [Feb 14] ahead of the storm and on Sunday [16th] thanked President Donald Trump for approving a federal disaster declaration, making federal aid funding available to impacted areas, including search and rescue operations that will also persist throughout the commonwealth, Beshear noted….” (CNN. “Death toll rises in multi-state floods as rivers rise and rescues continue.” 2-17-2025.)
Feb 18: wowktv 13 News, Charleston WV. “Death toll rises to 14 as Kentucky…”
“FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) – State officials gathered Tuesday morning [18th] to share an update on damage following historic flooding across Kentucky that killed 14 people…. According to the governor [Beshear], the death toll is now at 14, with the two newly announced fatalities coming from Jefferson County. The woman and man were believed to have been homeless and died from hypothermia.
….
“Officials shared that 44 counties now have disaster declarations, which reinforces how big of a threat this natural disaster has been and continues to be statewide….”
Feb 20, Lexington Herald Leader: “Raging flood waters and winter weather over the past two weeks left 15 people dead. Here’s what we know about each of the victims:
Bryant, Scottie, 70. Pike County. Swept away “while on foot at Peyton’s Creek.”
Cline, Sydney, 71, Stanville, Floyd County. “…died in his pickup truck as a result of flood…Mare Creek…”
Damron, Gary, 72. Pike County. Driving his truck in floodwater in Fedscreek area.
Kelly, Robert, 71, Pike County. Died in his flooded home.
Lehr, JoAnne, 79, of Springfield, when her car ran off highway into a creek.
Licato, Paul Joseph, 65, of Cynthiana, Scott County. His vehicle was swept away by flood water.
Nicholson, Donald Keith, 73, Clay County. Tried to drive through flood water, got out and was swept away.
Philpott, Amy, 35, Hart County. Mother and daughter “swept away” by flood water.
Philpot, Charlotte, daughter of Amy, aged 7, swept away by flood water.
Rutledge, William, 59, Hart County. “…died in a “weather-related” single-vehicle car crash on Interstate 65, according to Kentucky State Police. Rutledge’s truck went off the road and overturned.”
[Blanchard note: Several other names are noted in addition to these ten, but they are not reported as flooding fatalities, but rather as winter weather fatalities over a time period extending past the flooding: two were hypothermia/exposure deaths of apparently homeless persons, and one was a traffic fatality related to snowy-road conditions and one was simply noted as a “weather-related” death by Governor Beshear.. Additionally, the unidentified cause-of-death is noted for Thomas Oakes, 63 of Hardin County, pending autopsy. “Officials said he wasn’t in a vehicle or his home when he died.”]
(Lexington Herald Leader. “Tragedy in Kentucky: What we know about the 15 victims who died in floods, winter weather.” 2-20-2025.)
Sources
ABC News. “11 dead from storm in Kentucky as US braces for another cross-country storm bringing extreme cold, snow.” 2-17-2025. Accessed 2-17-2025 at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/cross-country-storm-bring-snow-extreme-cold/story?id=118887981
CNN. “Death toll rises in multi-state floods as rivers rise and rescues continue.” 2-17-2025. Accessed 2-17-2025 at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/17/us/deadly-winter-storm-eastern-us/index.html
Lexington Herald Leader. “Tragedy in Kentucky: What we know about the 15 victims who died in floods, winter weather.” 2-20-2025. Accessed 2-22-2025 at: https://www.kentucky.com/news/weather-news/article300460249.html
Washington Post. “How a few inches of rain turned ‘catastrophic in Kentucky and West Virginia.” 2-18-2025. Accessed 2-19-2025 at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/02/18/kentucky-west-virginia-deadly-floods-rains-snow/
wowktv 13 News, Charleston WV. “Death toll rises to 14 as Kentucky continues to assess…” 2-18-2025. Accessed 2-18-2025 at: https://www.wowktv.com/news/kentucky/death-toll-rises-to-14-as-kentucky-continues-to-assess-flood-damage-as-snow-approaches/