FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – The city of Frankfort set a curfew that runs from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.
City officials say it is a necessary step to limit traffic downtown as crews are trying to prepare for things to get worse before they get better.
“People know what to expect with certain water levels, now in this case this is different because it is such a high-water mark,” said Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson.
Wilkerson says their first priority is keeping people safe, as well as keeping as much property as possible from getting damaged by floodwaters.
He says crews feel prepared for the possible 49.5 ft. river crest, a record-breaker, which is expected to hit around 8 a.m. Monday.
“We feel confident based on where the forecast is going, I feel like that we can handle this and that we are prepared for anything in the contingencies,” he said.
The sight of the Kentucky River hitting so high did draw curiosity from people who live in Frankfort. Some residents stopped to grab a few pictures before listening to advice to evacuate.
A few said they were not living in Frankfort when the current river crest record was set in 1978.
“I’ve heard tales about 1978,” said Karen Kuhner, a Frankfort resident. “I wasn’t here then and my heart just goes out to all of the people that aren’t able to leave and whose homes are more than likely going to be destroyed.”
Franklin Co. Judge Exec. Michael Mueller says they appreciate all of the offers for helping hands but for now, they need to ride out the worst of things before they can start the true response.
“We’re just asking people to stop, let’s slow down a little bit, we need the storm to get to a good point because we do not need people out traveling right now,” said Mueller.
People staying in Frankfort are asked to limit water usage. Local officials say the water treatment plant is underwater, with a roughly four-day supply available. They say they will have a more definitive timeline for when things can start to go back to normal once the river starts going down instead of up.
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