Emergency Update: Historic Flooding in Bowling Green and Warren County

Published:

April 6, 2025

Category:

General

Contact:

Deborah West - 270-393-3642

Location:

Bowling Green, KY

Bowling Green and Warren County are experiencing historic flooding, with widespread damage expected to property, though no loss of life has been reported. Residents urged to avoid flooded areas and stay cautious of hazardous conditions.

UPDATE 5:13 p.m. Sunday, April 6 - The City of Bowling Green is commencing construction of a temporary emergency access road for the residents of the Spring Lakes subdivision and the KOA campground with the support of Scott and Ritter Construction. Currently those residents are trapped in their location due to floodwaters. The City is working to provide an access road as quickly as possible.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Since Thursday, Bowling Green has been slammed with historic flooding. This is another absolutely heartbreaking weather event for the City of Bowling Green and Warren County. While there have been no reports of loss of life, the loss of property is expected to be substantial. Many unknowns remain until the water recedes.

As of this morning, the hardest-hit areas within the city limits of Bowling Green are the Nashville Road, Louisville Road, and Russellville Road corridors, with sporadic flooding throughout the city, including Cave Mill Road, Brentwood Place, the Greystone neighborhood, Barberry Court, Sumpter Way, and many other locations.

Our storm sewer system, which relies on the cave system beneath, is overwhelmed, as is the cave system itself. All stormwater and treated sanitary sewer water flows into the Barren River. Drakes Creek, which takes in water from surrounding counties, also flows into the Barren River.

County Emergency Management is currently working to establish a shelter for flood victims. We are asking citizens who may need to go to shelters as the temperatures drop to watch Warren County Emergency Management’s social media channels for information on temporary shelters. Hotel Inc. has placed two families from the Greystone subdivision into temporary accommodations. Both families live on Turkey Run.

Both Drakes Creek and the Barren River have crested once and will crest a second time. Drakes Creek will crest at 7 p.m. tonight, and the Barren River will crest at 1 a.m. Monday. Both the river and Drakes Creek are at flood stage and will remain so until the water recedes.

We also expect some sinkholes and stormwater basins to continue rising as groundwater pulses through.

At present, we are tracking five sinkholes within the city limits due to the rain. The sinkholes are located at the Lovers Lane Soccer Complex, Normandy Way, Sherwood Street, Sailor Avenue, and Midsummer Street. In the county, a sinkhole has opened up on Lakemere Avenue in the Fountain Trace subdivision. Please drive with caution.

We have received multiple water rescue calls, but so far, the city fire department has conducted only two physical water rescues: one from a car and one from a home in the county, where a man and his three dogs were rescued from a flooded home.

If city residents see sinkholes, they should call 393-3444. Additionally, please use the disaster reporting form provided by Warren County Emergency Management to report damage to your property. That form can be found at https://bit.ly/FloodSurvey2025.

As for the floodwaters residents are seeing in neighborhoods and on streets, there is a high probability that the floodwaters are contaminated with raw sewage, which is extremely hazardous to health. People should avoid entering the water.

We want people to remain safe, use extreme caution, stay off the roads if possible, stay out of flooded areas, and do not, under any circumstances, cross road barriers. Law enforcement will be issuing citations to anyone caught driving around barriers.

Earlier today, Mayor Todd Alcott declared a State of Emergency which will help the City become eligible for FEMA reimbursement , if certain criteria is met.

Here is a road update as of 4 p.m. Sunday

• IMPASSABLE:
  • Brighton Ave (324/342 Brighton)
  • Blue Level Rd (Russellville Rd to Worth Way), at least 3 homes flooded
  • Rodeo Ln at McCausland (600 block)
  • W. McLellan from 599 on, two homes and a substation cut off
  • Hearthstone Cir from 125 to 165, three homes appear to be flooded (WarCo)
  • Stonecrest Ave from 250 to 255
  • Moorehead Rd, 1600 block 
  • County House Ln, 1000 block 
  • Red Clover Ave, 900 Block 
  • Shallowford St, 1200 Block 
  • Turkey Run at Red Clover per 
  • Maple Ln from 4450 to Boxwood
  • Boxwood at Maple Lane
  • Old Barren River Road, Woodford to Shannon 
  • Cave Mill Rd from Dishman to Hunting Creek Drive
  • Glen Lily Rd at Jennings Creek, 1055 Glen Lily to Veterans
  • Boatlanding Rd, KY-185 to Power St
  • Three Springs Road from Smallhouse Road to I-165.
  • Twilight Avenue

• WATER IN ROAD BUT PASSABLE:
  • Hillview Mills Blvd, 300 block
  • Macer Ave.
  • SW Parkway near Kobe Way 1” – 6” of standing water depending on lane
  • Windover Ave near Russellville Rd
• CLEAR:
  • Creason at Topmiller
  • Russellville Road within City Limits
  • South Lee, 1300 Block
  • North Lee at Trent
  • Brewster Ln – Currently clear, may flood again as river rises tonight and tomorrow. road significantly damaged
  • Crewdson
  • Fair St 1000 block
  • 31W Bypass (600 Block)
  • Belmont Ave (500 block, flowing water)
  • Regents Ave (near Mimosa Alley)
  • Lehman @ Laine
  • Cabell @ Hogle
  • Logan Wy @ Chestnut St
  • Batsel Ave
  • Covington St (600 block)
  • Wakefield  St (700 block)