Flood Protection System Proving Effective

Despite this being the wettest April on record, with 13.6 inches of rain and counting, MSD Director Bud Schardein says Louisville’s flood protection system is working as designed.The agency predicts that everything outside the flood plane will remain unaffected by the rising waters since all 16 flood pumping plants remain fully operational.“I believe since the system was built" says Schardein, "that’s the first time we could say that every pumping unit in all 16 of those pumping plants is working right now.”After 3 inches of rain last night, he says it was a close call this morning, but with today’s slight break in the rain, officials say the pumping stations will be able to catch up and the drainage channels will recede.Flood damage in Louisville has been kept to a minimum thanks to the city’s flood protection system. But with more rain in the forecast and the Ohio River’s crest still to come, the system may start racking up high energy and cleanup costs.All 16 flood pumping stations are fully functioning, and MetroSafe Director Doug Hamilton says officials have been tracking the cost of the protection system and cleanup.“One of the things we were reporting to the mayor earlier today is tracking our costs, we are at about $600,000 so far," says Hamilton, "in eligible costs and we’re monitoring that in anticipation of whether or not we will reach our threshold of $2.4 million in eligible expenses in order for us to request FEMA aid.”