CARROLLTON, Ky. — Several areas of Carroll County are under a mandatory evacuation order after Dix Dam gates were opened further upriver, according to a release from Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams.
According to a letter from Carroll County Emergency Management Director Mike Ratliff, these areas are under the evacuation order:
- Prestonville
- Greensbottom
- Happy Hollow
- Blue Lick
- Lock Number 1 Road
- Lower Mason Street
In a Facebook Live video Sunday afternoon, Adams said 10 gates were opened at Dix's Dam — which is located on Herrington Lake, south of Lexington, and feeds into the Kentucky River.
According to KYTC District 7, these releases were planned due to the level of Herrington Lake, but Adams initially said in his live stream that they were "accidentally opened."
Update
— KYTC District 7 (@KYTCDistrict7) April 6, 2025
Correction:
An earlier post should have stated that the release of water from the Herrington Lake Spillway in Mercer Co. was planned due to the level of the lake.
All flood prediction models factored the release into the predicted flood models.
Franklin County Judge Executive Michael Mueller told WCPO's sister station in Lexington, LEX18, that he wants to squash all this information about the dam.
"Dix Dam is releasing exactly how they're supposed to per the State of Emergency Management," Mueller said in a statement. "I know that Mayor got on and said they were opening 10 gates. That is true but it was all planned."
Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams released a follow-up Facebook Live video Sunday evening explaining there was a miscommunication about the planning of the dam release.
"All I did was pass along what we had at the time," Adams said. "All I'm doing now is passing along new clear information that we have received from the same source."
Adams also clarified that the dam release will affect Carroll County differently than other areas along the Kentucky River, and residents should refer to their own county's officials.
"Everybody up river from Carroll County, I don't want to say you're on your own, but you are on your own to your local officials within your county," Adams said. "Pay attention to them. Because the impact could be different upstream."
Watch the video below of areas in Carrollton underwater on Monday:
During an update about flooding in Kentucky on Monday, Governor Andy Beshear said that Adams was doing what he could to keep residents safe with the information he had available. Beshear also said their team is working to get to the bottom of the miscommunication and will need to discuss it with Kentucky Utilities.
Hear more from Adams in the video below:
"All we know for sure is that this is going to impact our area in a major way," Ratliff wrote in his letter to residents.
Adams said officials believe the outcome of this dam release along the Kentucky River corridor will be worse than the "Great Flood of 1937."
Ratliff said there is no guarantee resources will exist for rescue for those that fail to evacuate.
"This is a high impact event and should be taken as a life-threatening emergency," Ratliff wrote.
Those who need help with evacuation in Carroll County can call 502-732-6621. Those looking for shelter can call 502-732-7060.
Earlier Sunday, the Kentucky River was expected to reach a record level near the dam in Lockport. The Kentucky River was expected to crest in Lockport at 57 feet on Tuesday, according to the NOAA, but Ratliff said crest heights for the Kentucky River are now unknown.
