Update: The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to block the highway near the 6.6 mile point — at the intersection of U.S. 60 and KY 279 — at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday.
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Rising floodwaters are threatening to isolate the small community of Stanley, and Daviess County officials say the lone remaining dry access route could be underwater within hours. Standing in a parking lot off U.S. 60 with the encroaching water visible behind them, local leaders outlined their emergency response plans for the area.
“This is actually the part of the county where I was raised,” said Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen. “So I’m very familiar with the terrain here and the flooding that’s going on. It’s heartbreaking — just knowing that my neighbors, my fellow citizens here in Daviess County, have to deal with what they’re facing right now.”
Castlen said the situation has escalated more than he initially expected, and officials now believe U.S. 60 will be underwater and closed overnight, if not sooner.
“That’s going to isolate this little town of Stanley,” Castlen said. “There are several hundred people who’ve made Stanley their home. They’re resilient people, and they’ll be all right. But we’ve still got our team ready to assist them in whatever ways we can, whatever needs may arise.”
Shelter and supplies prepared
Daviess County Emergency Management Director Andy Ball said Owensboro Christian Church at 2818 New Hartford Road is now open as a temporary shelter and can accommodate up to a couple hundred people.
“We already have cots, linens, and supplies staged there,” Ball said. “If you’re planning to use the shelter, I want to mention that we use wool blankets — so you may want to bring your own bedding, anything to help keep kids entertained, and any necessary prescription medications. We plan to keep the shelter open through the weekend and reevaluate on Monday morning.”
Ball said the county has submitted several resource requests to the state, including meals ready to eat (MREs) and bottled water. While they haven’t yet been requested by residents, both are available. Muck-out cleaning kits — including sponges, masks, and sanitizing supplies — are also expected to arrive early next week.
Emergency officials continue to monitor water levels closely, with both the Ohio River and Green River expected to crest on Saturday.
“We’re seeing a steady rise,” Ball said. “While more rain is expected, I just spoke with the National Weather Service — they don’t believe it will significantly impact the flooding, though it may slow the rate of decline on the rivers.”
Law enforcement urges caution
Sheriff Brad Youngman emphasized the seriousness of road closures, noting that drivers are still moving barricades and attempting to cross flooded areas.
“There are a lot of [barricades] up throughout the county right now — roads are closed, and we want to emphasize how important it is to take those barricades seriously,” Youngman said. “When people try to drive through water, they can lose their bearings. And just to be clear — it is a crime to drive around a barricade.”
Youngman said patrol deputies are monitoring roads and that the department has partnered with the fire department to ensure emergency access. A helicopter with a deputy onboard will conduct aerial patrols over the coming days to reach otherwise inaccessible areas — including Stanley.
“Floodwaters are an obstacle for us, too,” he said. “Like others have said, Stanley is our biggest concern right now.”
Stanley on the edge
According to Stanley Fire Department Assistant Chief Luke Cecil, the only remaining dry route out of the community is U.S. 60 — and even that is on borrowed time.
“As of now, the only dry access point left is directly on U.S. 60,” Cecil said. “But … it will have water over it at some point over the next 12-24 hours. At that point, the entire community of Stanley will be [completely surrounded by water.]”
Cecil said most residents are experienced with flooding and know how to respond. He added that Kimberly-Clark shut down operations Thursday morning and sent employees home as a precaution. A small crew remains on-site, and fire officials are maintaining contact to ensure safety.
“People do still have time to leave,” Cecil said. “The water’s rising slowly, and we don’t expect it to get too deep. What you see now is pretty close to what we expect when the crest hits Saturday.”
Fire and emergency crews on standby
Daviess County Fire Chief Jeremy Smith said crews are ready to respond quickly if road closures or call volumes increase.
“If call volume starts to pick up or the road goes underwater — which we do expect at some point in the next few hours — we’re prepared,” Smith said. “We’ve got teams on standby and ready to respond. So far, we haven’t been overwhelmed.”
He noted the complexity of the situation near Stanley, where the Green and Ohio rivers converge.
“What we’re seeing on the river right now is that the Ohio River is slowing down near Owensboro, but the Green River is still rising,” he said. “That water is starting to flow over into this area. It’s hard to predict because this is where those two rivers meet.”
Smith said they’re working closely with the city fire department and have two rescue boats ready. He encouraged anyone planning to evacuate to do so before dark, especially with storms in the forecast that could complicate rescues.
Other areas across the county, with Smith saying some neighborhoods are becoming “like little islands,” although none are as impacted as Stanley.
Countywide impacts
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has also been monitoring U.S. 60 closely. Chief District Engineer Deneatra Henderson said emergency crews raised the lowest section of the highway by four inches, hoping to delay — but not prevent — closure.
“We’ve made an emergency effort to raise the lowest section of the road by four inches. It won’t fix everything, but it is going to help keep it open just a little bit longer,” Henderson said. “Once it becomes unsafe to pass, we will close the road and turn people away.”
She said crews will be stationed at each end of the closure to monitor traffic and ensure barricades remain in place — especially overnight.
“We are not law enforcement, so we’ll request help from the sheriff’s office as needed,” Henderson said. “We’re also asking the public not to move barricades. When people do that — especially at night — it becomes a serious safety issue.”
Looking ahead
Ball said Thursday morning’s Emergency Operations Center meeting brought together all critical agencies, from first responders to hospitals and utilities.
“Right now, we’re still in the response phase,” Ball said. “The recovery phase will come later — probably several days from now. Once river levels start to drop and areas become accessible again, we’ll begin conducting damage assessments.”
Those assessments will be divided into two categories: Individual Assistance (IA) for support to households, and Public Assistance (PA) for infrastructure like roads, bridges, and parks. Once data is submitted to the state, officials will determine if Daviess County qualifies for FEMA support.
As the rivers continue to rise and more rain looms, officials say they’re hopeful — but realistic.
“We’ve got a good team,” Castlen said. “We’ve been meeting since last week, even while the rain was still falling, to prepare for whatever we might have to deal with.”
