Flood in Ballard County, Kentucky

Record flooding occurred along the Mississippi River near and below the confluence of the Ohio River. The river gages at both Cairo, Illinois and New Madrid, Missouri measured record high levels exceeding the 1937 record flood. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the evening of May 2 spared Ballard County from an even higher crest. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Mississippi River dropped suddenly. Historic flooding of the Mississippi River inundated low-lying sections of Wickliffe. A few evacuations were required, and homes were sandbagged. All main arteries into and out of Wickliffe were closed except U.S. Highway 60. A section of U.S. Highway 51 was closed south of Wickliffe near a large paper mill. The paper mill was shut down for weeks. The bridge over the Ohio River on U.S. Highway 51/60/62 was closed when sections of the road leading to the bridge were covered by several feet of water.

Major flooding continued on the Ohio River from April. At the Grand Chain, Illinois river gage, the flood crest of 62.20 feet on the evening of May 2 came within two feet of the record of 64.00 feet set in 1937. The activation of the New Madrid Floodway by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spared Ballard County from an even higher crest. With the detonation of the Mississippi River levee at Birds Point, Missouri, the Ohio River dropped suddenly at Grand Chain. Grand Chain is located across from Ballard County. Some homes were evacuated, primarily in areas around Oscar. The total number of flooded homes was likely between 20 and 30.

The Ohio River finally fell below flood stage after spending five months above flood stage, which is the longest duration on record at the Cairo, Illinois river gage. Much of this time, the river was above flood stage due to backwater from the swollen Mississippi River. When it came to the impacts of the flooding, the extended duration of the flooding was at least as significant as its severity. The levee system along the Ohio River was saturated by the extended presence of floodwaters, raising concerns about the stability and integrity of some levees. Repairs were made to the U.S. Highway 51 levee, which carries the road from Wickliffe to the Cairo bridge. In certain locations where slippage was observed, the levee was stabilized with truckloads of rock. Although crops were never planted in many parts of the flood plain, the agricultural impacts were still significant. Large portions of a wildlife management area were flooded. At the Cairo, Illinois river gage, the river crested in late June and fell below flood stage in mid July.