In March 1997, the river rose more than 24 feet above the flood stage, sending water rushing into town — killing five and flooding nearly 1,000 homes. The flood reached 50 feet at its height, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, breaking the record for the worst flood in the town’s history.

Several Kentucky communities are expected to be isolated by floodwaters as rising rivers and streams cover roads around the region.

Significant severe weather and life-threatening flash flooding continue to impact much of the mid-South up through the Ohio River Valley.

Much of central and western Kentucky were already experiencing flooding Friday. Some of the region could soon see an additional half-foot of rain.

"Copious" rainfall is expected to batter Kentucky and the Ohio River valley in the coming days, forecasters said, risking major flooding.

An additional 3 to 4 inches of rain could fall in Lexington by Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Between 4-6 inches of additional rain was expected to fall on the Louisville metro area from Friday through Sunday, officials said.

Water levels are monitored of these five area rivers and creeks: the Ohio River, Great Miami River, Little Miami River, Mill Creek and Licking River.

With the ground soaked in much of Kentucky, rivers and streams full or already overflowing after days of heavy rainfall, and more rain forecast in places, the state will face flooding for several more days. The National Water Prediction Service projects major flooding on some rivers in the state.

The Kentucky flood of March 1997 was one of the deadliest weather events in the state’s history. Large amounts of rain fell on central Kentucky and southern Indiana from late February through early March that year.

Severe thunderstorms and relentless rain are triggering catastrophic flooding across the middle of the US this weekend, as areas already hit hard by a recent string of storms and tornadoes remain in the path of this current system.