from Oklahoma to West Virginia. Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. The shelves were picked clean of specific survival foods. guys at the county level.". Thank you for reading! Although most of the major interstates were able to remain open (except for Interstate 64 and one lane usage on Interstate 65), many flights to the Louisville International Airport were delayed or canceled. As power came back on in the northwest corner of Tennessee, Over 200,000 of those individuals were in the city of Louisville. that's what we were able to do," Heltzel told The We were making sure all trucks, generators, equipment, anything mechanical, were all ready to go. After I got home, not sure of the time, but I woke up hearing tree limbs crackling, and then the power went off. I along with others responded to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). We've heard a credible-sounding story that someone who HEAT.gov During the month, Bowling Green also received its heaviest snowstorm and heaviest 24-hour snowfall ever seen in the city. There was a state of emergency throughout a large portion of the state. was obliterated, he said. By 4 p.m. that afternoon, all pages were completed and transmitted (through the Internet) to the printing plant in Hopkinsville. Kent State beats rival Akron 77-73 in gritty MAC semifinal 22 minutes ago. Jackson It's exactly how it sounds: a period of beautiful, mild temps that fool us (and our foliage) every time. But it so happens it's eerily similar to what occurred We want to emphasize how serious (this) is, Vectren CEO Carl Chapman said during a media appearance with Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel. A mere two months later, remnants of Hurricane Ike brought We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Municipal water We even have food ready in case our electricity goes off peanut butter, crackers, apples, peanuts. Last Update: 10:59 am CST . The weather in southern Indiana has merchants concerned with the Christmas shopping season down to the final days. How did you do during the 2009 ice storm in Kentucky? Elder trees were not strong enough to withstand the weight of the ice; both branches and entire trees fell to the ground. This was a time when neighbors, friends, emergency . Also looking for HO scale railroad junk parts such as barrels, diesel parts, tools, etc. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. 4 stories from the worst snow storms in Evansville history | Webb, Indiana bill would put 'In God We Trust' in every classroom | Webb, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Last Update: 9:15 pm CDT Apr 30, 2023. At least one death was caused from someone burning wood and debris in their home without proper ventilation. Ice and Snow Storm of January 26-28, 2009. The ice was both beautiful and deadly. If you have items for sale or looking for a particular item or items. They worked 16 hour days, amid This week in 2009, Caldwell County, and most of western Kentucky, experienced an ice storm that shut down schools, businesses, and caused roads to be blocked by downed trees and power lines. blocked. He denied the charges and begged constituents for a chance to clear his name.. Thousands bide time in shelters after ice storm Jan 30, 2009 . The cold front caused temperatures to drop. after a similar ice storm 11 months earlier. DAR file photos. Some had no choice. Temperatures dipped into the 20s and 30s in the mornings in the five-day period throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana. And she couldnt go back to sleep, so she settled in to watch a movie. One of the worst weather calamities this area has ever seen plowedthrough Evansville and Western Kentucky, spewing 5 inches of snow and 1.25 inches of ice that cocooned power lines, obliterated tree limbs and transformed streets into impassable nightmares. Kentuckians in need," the Democrat said. A winter storm dropped snow onto sections of southern Indiana and counties bordering the Ohio River in Kentucky, accumulating up to 30 inches, causing drifts of 2-5 feet. reports that some users might be out of power for several weeks. Many country folk simply went to their cellars to fetch vegetables and fruits canned during previous years. After an unusually warm streak the last 10 days of March, with temperatures topping out in the 70s and 80s, a cold front made its way into the Ohio Valley Region. Meteorologists warned it could be one of the worst storms in recent memory. But eight pages needed to be completed on Tuesday. At Lexington, all but three days during the month were colder than normal, and 19 of the days were at least 10 degrees below normal. Below: possibly all Sikeston. An intense winter storm brought copious amounts of snowfall to the region, with all of Kentucky and southern Indiana receiving several inches of snow. Fort Campbell January 30, 2009 LBL-NRA Ice Storm. Fehr wasnt the only one to field angry phone calls. Snow, ice, and more snow blanketed Kentucky causing widespread power outages and difficult driving conditions. People really should learn from this. the Federal Emergency Management Agency were expected to arrive SKYWARN. 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. The horrific ice storm in Kentucky really left its mark on the residents, especially those who suffered the longest. We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content. Ohio Valley Ice Storm: Jan. 26-28, 2009. Some of the most notable Kentucky ice storms throughout history are: , If anyone from Kentucky says they dont go through these thoughts and feelings during one of our amazing storms, theyre probably not being honest. response to a storm that cut power to more than 600,000 people, record 769,000 without electricity, killed 30 people and sent officials first to respond - and who set up shelters - with Football Weather, Local Information Freezing rain continued over southern Kentucky. 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. Power lines were down across most of Louisville County Warning Area (CWA), roads became covered, slick, hazardous, and even impassible in some cases. Our entire state was coated in a thick layer of ice. Check out these great suggestions. Friday in restoring power to the more than 1.3 million homes and Several emergency shelters were set up across the affected region. Giannini said, During the two plus weeks the shelters were open thousands of meals were prepared and some were even sent to neighboring counties. study such. Bad winter weather. The Bluegrass State is a mild and easygoing place, offering residents a slower pace of life and congenial Southern experience. Some choked on carbon monoxide. The first snowstorm to strike the region came through on the second day of the month and gave Bowling Green 5 inches, Louisville 9.2 inches, Lexington 7.5 inches, and Frankfort 6.4 inches. "There's nothing wrong with a car. Those who hunkered down in their homes face stations. After all that snow and cold, the weather finally broke toward the end of the month, and it broke in a big way. Significant damage was reported throughout the region as tree limbs cracked and fell onto power lines due to the dense ice. Climate Graphs If anyone wants the sod for patching bare spots or other uses, please let me know and Ill try to keep it moist for a few days for you. Accumulations were mostly sleet with some freezing rain amounting to one to two inches in most locations. Less than a week after a system dumped up to a half-inch of ice over most parts of Kentucky, another winter storm arrived overnight Monday, Feb. 15, dropping more ice and several inches of snow across most of the commonwealth. series of big earthquakes estimated at magnitude 7.0 or greater, In the Louisville metropolitan area205,000 lost power and it took up to 10 days to get everyone hooked back up. She didnt finish it. According to the National Weather Service, there were at least 14 fatalities either directly or indirectly related to that storm. How should we better get ready? Precipitation began as light freezing drizzle and freezing rain over the entire area, but changed to sleet and then snow overnight into the early morning hours of Tuesday across southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Record snow and incredible cold: Jan. 17-19, 1994. More than half a million homes and businesses, most of them in Fort Knox At times the snow fell at a rate of 4 inches per hour, with the highest accumulations measuring 32 inches. By January 27, over 90% of southwestern Kentucky was without power. sounded like a war zone. Photo below left is from Springfield, Mo. By JOE BIESK The storm killed at least 35 people across the Midwest and did millions of . Glen Cantrell, communications manager for the SEMO Electrical An extremely strong high-pressure system started making its way into the region, pulling harsh, cold, polar air in with it. Meanwhile in Illinois, life chugged on. Regional Weather Map common values that exist among all income and education and Download Image of Winter Storm - Madisonville, Ky. , February 23, 2009 -- Three weeks after the January 27th ice storm, debris is still being removed by city contractors. The sheriffs department helped to transport generators, medicine, oxygen tanks and other supplies as needed to people, as well as making well checks. Around 7:30, her power zapped out as well. 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. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The land borders CSX. If you wanted bread and milk, you had to make it to the stores and pray they received stock. Madisonville, KY 42431 . "You just Spotter Training They chose a warm death over freezing to death. You have permission to edit this article. the state needs, Heltzel said. The loss of power was the greatest challenge for the newspaper to meet its publishing schedule. 2. owns land along the Mississippi River near here, cut a path "The real heroes of this -the initial heroes - are those We like to follow the Old Farmers Almanac, which has a pretty good success rate at accurately forecasting Kentucky winters. "His ability to work together and coordinate efforts with there's nothing like a nice, frigid, The Snowstorm of 1998 is one most of you likely remember. 1-Stop Severe Forecast "And they decided to venture outside. However, on the surface, temperatures had only risen to 28 degrees. Live updates from Kentucky:Get the latest news on storm damage here "It's just catastrophic. So Heltzel used a statewide earthquake training held last Several emergency shelters were set up across the affected region. who stepped up in the middle of this thing," Heltzel said. 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. 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 . There were 24 lives lost due to traffic accidents, hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning. Technology allowed both papers that week to be printed on schedule. Kentucky is known for having four seasons and what some call a mild winter. working stations were long. Computers and hard drives were transported to Hopkinsville on Friday there a skeleton crew (Hutcheson, Jared Nelson, Todd Griffin, Ellen Franklin and LeAnn Trafford) wrote stories, finished advertisements, prepared the mailing list and designed pages so the Saturday issue could be printed and mailed on schedule. get a meal because he was tired of eating cold soup. We had to go to Clarksville and Nashville to buy generators, because there werent any to be had here. He recalled, At one time a semi loaded with water got off the interstate here to get fuel. If we had the storm situation a year earlier, our old system would have made producing a paper complicated if not impossible.. 1-Stop Winter Forecast 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. You must be a paid member of the chapter to participate in these contests. It occurred along a cold front separating warm, humid air from the southeast from cold Arctic air to the north and northwest. Many roads were blocked by fallen trees during the 2009 ice storm. By the morning of Jan. 28, more than half of the homes and businesses Vectren served were languishing in the dark. (Photo . Chris Allen, WBKO-TV, Current Hazards Click on the image to the left for a statewide map of ice accumulations in Kentucky. At Murray University in southwestern Kentucky, brothers Jim Many residents were left without power for a long time, mainly in Franklin, Harrison, and Scott counties. Eason, 74, said. 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. quake scenario. Perhaps the state officials were cut off from much of western Kentucky during There were over 700,000 homes and businesses without power. If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. He chronicled the situation in his Wednesday column we (several co-workers) boxed up four of our computers and two back-up hard drivers and relocated to the Emergency Medical Services building, which had power and a wireless Internet connection we could tap into. People were trapped without power, cold, hungry and . ethnic differences. U.S. The hardest-hit areas were in Kentucky with over 500,000 residences without power during the height of the . . hit areas are ruined. By noon, the snow had turned to rain due to the above freezing warmer air aloft. Totals were smaller for southwest portions of Louisville, measuring between 5-10 inches by the end of the event. Heavy snows started on the evening of Feb. 3 in the southeast portions of Louisville, then traveled north, reaching the Louisville metropolitan area on Feb. 4 shortly before sunrise. One mail carrier who had obviously never been in a warzone told the C&P it was like a warzone.. The ice storm of 2009 has been described by the National Weather Service as the weather event of the decade. Updated: 10:20 AM EST Jan 28, 2022 Hide . NS 800-453-2530 People were trapped without power, cold, hungry and in more rural areas, desperately praying to survive. hurricane-force winds to Kentucky, leaving 600,000 electric Ice over an inch thick was reported in many locations from the freezing rain. said of the ice storm. Kentucky's Division of Emergency Management, has planned for ", Someone The Red Cross had contracted with many churches and the schools as designated shelters, but because of the power outage, those options could not at first be used. I cant remember. I write like it's my job - because it is! Love Kentucky? 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. LOUISVILLE, Ky. The 2009 ice storm left hundreds of thousands in Louisville without power. 1-Stop Drought Several had purchased generators after a similar ice storm 11 months earlier. Please select one of the following: Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To close out the month, the Blizzard of 78 struck the Midwest and Great Lakes. Type of soil and location does play a factor. Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! Friday at a staging area in Fort Campbell, Ky., said Mary Hudak, Box 125, Hopkinsville, Ky 42241. Businesses were reporting ceiling or other minor building damage, but only several small structures failed. preparation with saving lives from the storm. . And what happens when it all meets over the state of Kentucky? Some stores couldnt get supplies, making the situation even more dire. Some of the most notable Kentucky ice storms throughout history are: If anyone from Kentucky says they dont go through. Some, especially in Kentucky, lived in the dark and cold for weeks. Many mature trees in the hardest Guardsmen are credited with rescuing an elderly couple suffering Utilities continued to work, but 48,000 city residents remained without power as of Jan. 30. By January 27, over 90% of southwestern Kentucky was without power . have no electric power, no way to call for help and all roads are On Tuesday the 27th, precipitation changed to freezing rain over southern Indiana and northern Kentucky, and to rain over southern Kentucky. Other frightening aspects of the storm included: , Ice storms in KY are not at all unheard of. Appalachia, though temperatures creeping into the 40s helped The fire department and rescue squad played a big role in getting things done. The trees, power lines, homes, roads, trees and even flowers froze solid. thousands fleeing to shelters. We always come out and stock up when this happens. Giannini said, The Caldwell County Schools were instrumental in helping by offering the use of buses and Suburbans with drivers, which was used to transport people and especially food delivery around our county.. Dec 22, 2022. Drifting occurred as well, and some measured as high as 12 feet in Western Kentucky. zone" with downed power lines and tree limbs. By Wednesday and Thursday, a streak of heavy snow is likely from the central Rockies to the Great Lakes and severe storms possible from the southern U.S. to Ohio Valley. Other frightening aspects of the storm included: Thousands of residents were left without power for days on end it was the largest Kentucky power outage on record, An extra 3-6 inches of snow on top of the ice. 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. bottom flatland New Madrid-Caruthersville area might see some of encased much of the state in ice up to an inch thick. (Photo: Sikeston Standard). Get more stories delivered right to your email. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke), A pair of horses graze through a pasture near Midway, Ky., in search of grass hidden beheath a fresh layer of snow Feb., 2003. dire circumstances by a major natural disaster. (Photo by Jim Pearson) A CSX MOW crew works on clearing the tracks on the Morganfield Branch, west of Madisonville, Ky on January 28, 2008 after the ice storms that passed throught Kentucky in January, disrupting rail service through out the area for several days. It was the costliest winter on record for the time, causing an estimated $100 million in damage. A stream of Gulf moisture met cold arctic air, creating a During the months listed all members are invited to shoot pictures and submit no more than two entries each to webmaster@westkentuckynrhs.org by the deadline listed next to each contest. But a spokeswoman for Kenergy in Kentucky said some of their customers could be powerless for weeks. Archives: Remembering the disastrous ice storm of January 2009. Tree limbs were so weighted down from the ice that many fell, blocking travel. By mid-morning it was evident that it would be impractical to wait any longer (for power), recalled Hutcheson. A major quake will undoubtedly cause MORE stress to a minutes away. Ice over an inch thick was reported in many locations from the freezing rain. Due to the constant cold, much of the snow that had fallen during the month was still on the ground at the start of the blizzard, giving those winds 10 inches of snow to blow around (plus the additional snow that fell with the storm itself). It was satisfying to know we were able to keep that streak alive, and that was due not just to technological advancements, but to a loyal group of employees willing to go the extra mile to keep the community informed., David Crenshaw, Emergency Manager of Caldwell County during this time, said, The weather bureau was predicting an ice storm for the area. Daily Temp/Precip Maps In February 1998, a massive winter storm led to major power outages across Louisville and much of Kentucky, dumping over, Long-time residents are likely still talking about the infamous, Reports of an inch in ice accumulations along Interstate 64 were part of this unforgiving winter weather system that slammed sheets of freezing rain and ice across Kentucky as temperatures plummeted into the 20s. Perhaps the most crippling aspect of this event was its timing. That's from Benton, Mo., just south of Cape Girardeau, to With these two factors, enough moisture was pulled into the system from the Atlantic Ocean (not the Gulf of Mexico, as is usually the case), and the Appalachian Mountains proved no barrier for bringing the moisture farther west than a normal Noreaster. Several hundred thousand were left without power for 10 days and longer. He said whatever was needed, that was what the department did. Jay Brandon, WNKY-TV, Woodburn, Kentucky Limbs and tree trunks weighed down by ice blocked numerous roads, but power lines were also a casualty. propped in chairs or curled up on the stage. years, Mother Nature has taken down in a couple days," said Initial estimates of damage topped half a billion dollars for the Paducah NWS forecast area. Their trucks werent sliding into ditches anymore. Fire Weather It was and still is, the coldest March ever at Bowling Green, Louisville, Lexington, and Frankfort. Belski's Blog. At least the 1st place winners will be used to produce a chapter calendar for the next year. Radio Emergency Service local Volunteers). But there are some exceptions, as youll see in the following list of nine horrific winter storms in Kentucky. tools for dealing with statewide disasters. Finding fuel -- heating oil, gas for cars and generators -- Up to 6 inches of snow accumulated across the northernmost sections of the CWA. With no power, the only line of communications was through the local Ham Radio Club ARES (Amt. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. Madisonville, Ky. was 95% without power for a few said the continual sound of tree limbs breaking from the ice, 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. Although the storm system looked like a typical Noreaster for this time of year, taking a path from the Gulf Coast to the northeast along the Atlantic Coast, it was packed with strength and very slow-moving. home. No. Coast. "It's near the worst-case scenario," Heltzel Amtrak 800-331-0008, Powered by WordPress. Thousands bide time in shelters after ice storm Theme: Nuptial by Webulous Themes, UP T149 at Madisonville, Ky by Jim Pearson, CSX Work Train at Trenton, Ky by Jim Pearson, Video Action on the Henderson Subdivison by Rick Bivins, CSX P925-13 At Caskey and Mortons Junction by Jim Pearson, One of the great things about the internet, pictures and stories are at our fingertips, A LITTLE ODD This loaded CSX coal train, Clarks True Value Hosts Chapter Modular Layout for the 2022 Christmas Season, September 2022 Chapter Photo Contest Winners, The passing of former member Chuck Hinrichs, If youve not been on the chapters Facebook page, heres an example of what you might miss, Dinner is Served On the Cumbres and Toltec by Gary Ostlund, Life Steam-Up at the home of Kathy and Ed Saley, LORAM Railgrinder RG414 grinds through a curve as it makes its way south at Nortonville, Kentucky, The Black Hills Central Railway locomotive 108 heads through the countryside. The Louisville ice storm in 2009 went down in history as one of, if not THE, worst in the state. Monday, February 25, 2019. 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. The worst of the icy air struck on Jan. 9-10, with many locations dipping below zero with highs around 10 degrees and wind gusts to 25 miles per hour. just beyond Blytheville, Ar. Trees were weighted down with ice and snow, during the Ice Storm of 2009. Kentucky has, unfortunately, been on the receiving end of some truly memorable ice storms! El Nino and La Nina 6. Get more stories delivered right to your email. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky. and that keeps it pretty warm. entire region could submerge. Precipitation began as light freezing drizzle and freezing rain over the entire area, but changed to sleet and then snow overnight into the early morning hours of Tuesday across southern Indiana and northern Kentucky. Ice storm 2009. The month should have heralded the beginning of warmer spring weather, but instead was amazingly snowy and cold. Up to 6 inches of snow accumulated across the northernmost sections of the CWA. Evansville resident Theresa Harrold told the Courier & Press she woke at 2 a.m. to the sound of transformers bursting all around her. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired. Kenergy ice storm crews repair damaged power poles at the intersection of Brown Road and Kentucky 862 Monday afternoon as they work to restore service . western half of the state for days and Kentucky's power grid Water pipes burst under the extreme cold, transportation remained halted, temperatures remained unbearable, and 10 days later, the area had yet to recover from the ice and the snow. It was the first snow of the year in . The weather forecast office in Louisville had this report following the storm. What was the weather like on your birthday or another date in history? Military Railway Service Vet Remembers 1944, Amtraks Coast Starlight, crossing the Chambers Creek lift-bridge near Steilacoom, Washington, In light of our February program on Hueletts, Gary Ostlund had a timely entry, Telltales, are another piece of railroad infrastructure no longer seen along the right-of-way, Firing Nevada Northern Railway #81 at Ely, Nevada, Indiana Railway Museum and French Lick Scenic Railway, October 18, 2021 WKNRHS Meeting, program by Jim Pearson, refreshments by Vince Brown, November 15, 2021 WKNRHS Meeting, program and refreshments by Jim Kemp.
madisonville ky ice storm 2009