FALMOUTH, Ky. — All residents in Falmouth and Butler in Pendleton County, Kentucky, are under a "mandatory evacuation" due to high floodwaters.
Pendleton County Emergency Management announced shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday that the evacuations were effective immediately.
"(Falmouth) residents are being given until 8:00 PM tonight April 5th to leave town," the county EMA wrote on Facebook. "After 8:00 PM the utility services are not guaranteed."
While officials originally gave the 8 p.m. timeframe, Pendleton County EMA said several streets in Falmouth would have their gas turned off starting at 4 p.m.
Officials said that at some point Saturday evening, access to Falmouth would be limited.
WCPO 9 came across neighbors in Falmouth helping an elderly woman move her belongings out of her home.
"Most of the people here doesn't know the homeowner, they just seen us back up here with the trailer and they just stop and say 'can we help' and they just come in and start helping," said Gary Galloway, who was among the group helping.
Hear from those evacuating from Falmouth in the video below:
Down the road on Shelby Street, members of Harvest Community Church have been evacuating for days.
"We came in and evacuated our church last night," said Shawn Morton, a member of the church. "We emptied everything."
Morton said the church's basement is already flooded, and they expect it to worsen.
Falmouth sits along the Licking River, which is expected to hit 41.50 feet by Sunday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA describes this flood stage as a "Major." The city is expected to hit a "Moderate" flood stage, which is 37 feet, by Saturday evening.
"If you think your house is safe from water, you may not have utilities and rescue emergency responders may not get to you," the county EMA wrote.
In Butler, which sits further north along the Licking River, residents are being given until 4 p.m. to leave town. After 4 p.m., utility services are not guaranteed, and access to the city will be limited.
Butler's Mayor Mason Taylor said they're prepared for the flooding, but acknowledged it could be potentially historic.
"This is something we've grown accustomed to, unfortunately," Taylor said.
See how bad the flooding is in Butler in the video below:
Taylor said his biggest concern is making sure his residents are safe.
"We will be at some point an island," Taylor said.
Anyone in Falmouth or Butler who needs their utilities shut off can contact 859-654-6540.
"Now is the time to leave," the county EMA wrote.
Kentucky Emergency Management told WCPO 9 on Saturday that the Kentucky National Guard is sending 24 guardsmen to Pendleton County.
Alongside the Licking River, each of the Tri-State's major rivers is expected to reach at least a "Moderate" flood stage Sunday.
The Ohio River is forecast to crest at 60 feet, a height it has only reached once in the last 28 years.
You can see where river flooding will reach over its banks with these interactive maps here.
