Earlier today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Water Prediction Service updated the forecast crest for the Ohio River at Paducah. With this new information, the City of Paducah is initiating the floodgate installation process.
Yesterday, the forecast showed the Ohio River cresting at 47.0 feet on April 10 which would not require the need to install Paducah’s floodgates. However, today’s updated forecast has the Ohio River at Paducah expecting to crest at 50.0 feet and hold at a high level starting Thursday, April 10.
City Engineer Greg Guebert said, “With the heavy rain that that the various river valleys, including the Ohio River valley, have been collecting and with additional rain today and over the weekend, we are seeing a sharp increase in local river levels. With the latest forecast showing a crest in Paducah at 50 feet, three feet higher than yesterday’s crest forecast, we are mobilizing to install the floodgates.”
The City of Paducah Public Works and Engineering departments are beginning the floodgate installation process. Public Works crews, with the assistance of crews and equipment from the Paducah-McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency (JSA), are starting to prepare the gate openings by removing the bottom plates and cleaning the sills of any debris. The City has contracted with Jim Smith Contracting which has begun to mobilize equipment and will begin floodgate installation on Monday, April 7.
Pedestrian and vehicle traffic are not allowed on or near the floodwall and floodgates. During floodgate installation, expect brief road closures. For safety, do not drive around barricades.
Currently, six of the City’s 12 pump stations are in operation due to the river level. The first pump station began operating when the river was at 27.5 feet. As the Ohio River rises, additional pump stations will be placed into operation with all 12 operational next week.
The floodgates were last installed in February 2019.
FAQ—What is the Ohio River stage that would cause water to flow down Broadway if the City didn’t have a floodwall and a floodgate at that location? The answer is 50 feet. When the Ohio River stage is at 50 feet, water would begin to flow through the floodwall opening at the foot of Broadway if no floodgate was installed.
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