Gov. Beshear focuses on severe weather safety, public health in Team Kentucky update

FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — As Kentucky remains under a state emergency due to ongoing severe weather, Gov. Andy Beshear addressed the state on Thursday with the latest information.

In a news release, Beshear said he would update Kentuckians on a variety of topics, including development, infrastructure improvements, and the state’s response to natural disasters and severe weather. Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, will provide an update on the Our Health Kentucky Home initiative.

During his conference, Beshear said that after Wednesday night’s severe weather, the proceeding two days indicated less intensity. However, there is still a high chance of flash flooding and riverbank flooding from Thursday to Sunday morning.

Beshear urged Kentucky drivers to be slow and cautious on the commonwealth’s highways.

According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 49 state roads have been closed due to weather hazards as of 12:51 p.m.

On Tuesday, Beshear declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth, emphasizing that western Kentucky faces the highest risk of widespread severe storms expected to be “intense and long-lived.” Across the Commonwealth, the oncoming storms raise concerns about tornadoes, hail, flooding, and strong winds.

As of 12:05 p.m. on Thursday, outages had reached 19,166 Kentucky customers.

The declaration comes less than a month after the Bluegrass was impacted by disastrous flooding that left significant damage in several communities.

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