More than a dozen of Trigg County’s lead officials gathered Monday morning at the Emergency Operations Center on Jefferson Street, and all of them had the same message to send to the community.
Stop driving around barricades, and stop trying to ford the flood waters therein.
While sunshine has finally arrived to south western Kentucky, and local waters are currently receding, multiple leaders continued to stress that road conditions in many places are “iffy” at best, and “impassable” at worst — particularly in low-lying parts of the county and state infrastructure. Aside from high waters, where non-all-terrain vehicles tend to stall, several thoroughfares have soft shoulders, broken payment — or, worse yet, the lingering chance for potholes, which are nearly impossible to see in standing and moving water.
In an effort to detract local drivers, both the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office and the Cadiz Police Department are issuing citations for anyone caught attempting to circumvent signage, with court dates being penned for April 29.
Sheriff Aaron Acree and Chief Tyler Thomas both confirmed that by noon Monday, at least a half dozen citations had been issued — with more expected by the end of the week.
Acree said in some places there are big flashing signs, and in other places a “Road Closed.”
Regardless, the directions are clear.
Furthermore, Acree said even the biggest vehicles and best drivers are having issues navigating some of the flood waters — and that even having the proper equipment like tow trucks, rescue crews and other assets only pulls away and puts unnecessary, avoidable stress on law enforcement and first responders.
Some local drivers, he added, took to driving through other people’s property, and had excuses like “I need to shopping,” “I was trying to sight-see” and “I needed a pack of smokes.”
Or in other words, not good enough reasons.
Acree also said his office has also conducted “20 or so” wellness checks across the community, and wanted residents to not worry about the door-knocking that’s occurred since late last week.
Thomas, meanwhile, said ignoring barricades is no different than any other traffic offense.
Thomas also added while Cadiz city proper didn’t observe as much damage over the four-day weather event, it didn’t go unscathed. Four locations, including West Cadiz Park, either had water pond — or the cresting Little River escape its banks and run amok.
Other notes from Monday’s meeting:
+ Acree said that his office in that four-day stretch had responded to at least 160 calls for some type of service, with several vehicles stalling out Monday.
+ Near Ben Adams Bridge, Barkley Water District Manager John Herring said a water leak continues to cause issues, but as of noon Monday there still was “a foot of water over it.”
+ Trigg County Hospital President & CEO John Sumner, alongside Ambulance Director Jason Meador, said that as of yet, they hadn’t run into any issues deploying emergency services, but that detours were “adding time” to runs.
+ Trigg County Emergency Management Director David Bryant confirmed that waters in Cerulean will take “a good, long while” to recede because “there is nowhere for it to go.”
+ Judge-Executive Stan Humphries confirmed that assessments of all damaged roads and properties will undergo assessments before the end of the week, with all data to be sent off to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and other authorities of import. Those assessments could begin as early as Tuesday.
+ Little River Bridge, coming into the City of Cadiz, is currently under no concerns of failed infrastructure. However, its postponed cleaning, Humphries said, is still on the list of priorities.
Another meeting is expected to be held at 11 AM Tuesday in the EOC.
Officials in attendance also included:
+ Todd King, Mayor of Cadiz
+ Paula Flood, Trigg County Emergency Management
+ Lucy Kyler, Trigg County Treasurer
+ Matt Ladd, Trigg County Schools Director of Operations
+ Josh Holley, Cadiz Fire Department Chief
+ Scott Schrock, Trigg County Schools Director of Transportation
+ Faye Godair, Trigg County Sheriff’s Office
+ Brandon Calhoun, Trigg County Road Department
+ Steve Skinner, Trigg County Rescue
+ Brandon Fowler, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
+ Rex Booth, Trigg County Schools Superintendent
According to officials, these are the roads that either remain closed, or are problematic for a variety of reasons, including water near the road, soft shoulders, damaged pavement, and the like:
Adams Mill Road and East Adams Mill Road
Birchwood
Glenwood Mill Road
Goose Hollow Road
Herndon Circle
Humphries Road
Kings Chapel
Mason Circle
Old Dover Road
Old Hopkinsville Road
Smith Lane
Cerulean Road
South Road
Rocky Ridge
Montgomery Church Road
Hardy Road
Barefield Road
Caledonia Road
