UPDATE: April 6 at 7 p.m.
Authorities in Carroll County worked to clear up the "misinformation" surrounding the Dix Dam opening as Kentucky Utilities officials and Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams released information amid evacuations.
Daniel Lowry with Kentucky Utilities released the following information to LEX 18 regarding the DixDam:
"In a controlled fashion we have been opening spill gates since Friday evening and everything has been going per procedures. Flow from Herrington Lake has subsided starting this Sunday morning and we are in the process of closing gates today (Sunday)."
Meanwhile the Franklin County Judge Executive Michael Mueller issued the following statement:
I just kinda want to squash all this misinformation about Dix Dam. Dix Dam is releasing exactly how they're supposed to per the State of Emergency Management. I know that Mayor got on and said they were opening 10 gates. That is true but it was all planned. So Frankfort's numbers include what is going on at Dix Dam right now. 49.5 is still our crest at 2am so its gonna stay at that height until 8am. So please help me spread this information that the Dix Dam video from that Mayor is incorrect. It will not affect Frankfort and Franklin County. So I just wanted to clarify that and everybody be safe and we'll talk soon.
Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams released an additional video saying that there was a miscommunication regarding the DixDam and went on to apologize for the misinformation.
"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."
"The information we had earlier about the release at DixDam, that 10 dam gates were accidentally opened, we got that information from Frankfort. Somewhere there was a miscommunication to us and that was not true," the mayor reiterated.
Watch the mayor's video below.
Original Story:
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Prestonsville, Greensbottom, Happy Hollow, Blue Lick, Lock Number One Road, and Lower Mason Street, according to Carroll Co. Emergency Management (CCEM).
In a Facebook post, Carrollton Mayor Robb Adams said, "As of noon today, is when we got word from the state emergency management out of Frankfort on a briefing that ten dams, I'm sorry ten gates at Dix Dam, which is in central Kentucky along the Kentucky river were accidentally opened."
You can watch the full video statement from Mayor Adams below.
KYTC - District 7 posted to social media, saying, "An earlier post should have stated that the release of water from the Herrington Lake Spillway in Mercer County was a planned release due to the level of the lake. All flood prediction models have factored the release into the predicted flood models."
Mike Ratliff with CCEM said in a letter, "There has been a release at Dix Dam that is drastically impacting down stream areas. There are forecasts of the Kentucky River reaching 57 feet. The state has advised that the impacts of this major release are unprecedented and unpredictable. All we know for sure is that this is going to impact our area in a major way." The letter continues, saying, "Areas along the Kentucky river are expected to be impacted by significant flooding event of which history has never seen. This is a significant threat that should be taken seriously. If you fail to evacuate, there is no guarantee in that resources exist that will provide for your rescue."
Ratliff adds, "This is a high impact event and should be taken as a life-threatening emergency."
Anyone who needs help evacuating is asked to call 502-732-6621. The letter adds that they have emergency personnel to help with the removal of people and pets. Shelter is also available by calling 502-732-7060.
