Kentucky has fared well in face of impactful winter storm, Beshear says
Published 10:08 am Tuesday, January 7, 2025
- (Kentucky Department of Transportation photo)
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Although the first major storm of the winter season continues impacting Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday that despite tens of thousands of people being without electricity at this time, the state has fared well with no loss of life and only a few minor injuries reported.
“For a state that’s been through tornadoes, flooding, polar plunges and so much more, we were ready for this,” Beshear said. “We had a lot of prep time, but there’s still a lot of work to do. The most important thing people can do today is to stay home and stay safe, to let us do as much work as possible, to let us clear and treat the roads, and let the utilities restore as much power as possible.”
As of 10 a.m. Monday morning, Beshear said Kentucky State Police dispatchers reported more than 170 car crashes, 27 injury collisions and more than 280 stranded drivers have been helped. In addition, the dispatchers have answered 1,450 calls for service.
The governor also noted, “We have less than 24 hours before it gets so cold that the salt is not going to work, so we need as much time and as much road to do as much work as possible throughout the course of the day.”
A total of 84,000 Kentucky homes were without power as of 10 a.m. Monday, according to Beshear. “That’s down from about 96,000 an hour earlier, but you’re going to see these numbers fluctuate up and down as our utility companies do as much as they can before the bitterly cold weather hits.”
He urged Kentuckians who do not have power restored by Thursday to find a warming center near them since wind chills Thursday and Friday could drop to near zero, and even below in some areas. There could even be another winter storm this coming weekend.
Beshear said there is a disaster distress hotline Kentuckians can call to get assistance, which is 800-985-5990.
He plans to re-open Executive Branch state office buildings on Tuesday but has not heard from legislative leaders whether or not they will postpone Tuesday’s opening of the 2025 General Assembly.
