Storms and severe weather caused flooding and damage to the area.
Faced with this emergency, local officials decided to issue an emergency order that will only be in force until August 18. This way truckers will be able to work more hours to bring relief to the area.
Jim Gray, Kentucky’s Cabinet Secretary for Transportation reported, “This order is to help avoid delays for utility crews and other first responders responding to storm victims across a wide swath of western Kentucky and certain other areas.”
Torrential rains hit Kentucky on July 17, accompanied by hail, strong winds, power outages and flooding. A scenario that forced the authorities to declare this emergency that seeks to eliminate maximum federal driving time limits and exempts them from stopping at weigh stations.
Within 72 hours, western Illinois and southern Illinois experienced historic flash floods. Graves County and the city of Mayfield were the most damaged areas.
“I have declared a state of emergency to help communities like Mayfield and others affected by widespread flooding. This action will allow us to better support our fellow Kentuckians during this difficult time. More rain expected today, stay alert and safe,” Governor Andy Beshear said on Twitter.
The same official remarked that there were no fatalities. But he also said that the damage was significant.