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After the first wave of storms worked its way through the area Wednesday evening and overnight, more chances for severe weather remain in the forecast the rest of the week.
“We’re just going to have wave after wave of showers and storms, and some could come down pretty heavily at times,” said Meteorologist Ron Steve with the National Weather Service in Louisville. “Really, the first wave was Wednesday evening and you could be looking at multiple waves going all the way through Saturday or even Sunday.”
Although the current forecast shows the chances of severe storm damage are reduced, continuous heavy rainfall means an enhanced risk for flash flooding.
“We’re looking at historical amounts of rain, not just a major rain event, but historical amounts of rain that I would say if we were comparing something it’d be back to 1997 when we had so much rain at one time, but this is going be over a duration of three or four days-span of rain coming in and out of the area,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott.
Make sure your phone is subscribed to emergency messages, and stay tuned to media such as Quicksie and The Wolf for alerts. Never attempt to cross a flooded roadway. “Turn around, don’t drown.”
The weather this week may not be friendly to outdoor activity, but as the weather gets warmer and you get ready for summer fun be sure you are mindful of fire safety.
Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says make sure grills, especially gas ones, are properly cleaned ahead of use, and use them at a safe distance.
“We recommend if you have a grill at a private residence keep it at least 10 feet away from your buildings, overhangs, anything that if there is a flare-up, if it was on fire, it wouldn’t catch something else on fire,” Crane said.
Similar distancing guidelines are recommended if you are using a fire pit.
“We try to tell people to keep them at least 15 feet away from your buildings and your patio area,” Crane said. “Try to keep at least 15 feet away because it is an open flame.”
If you are doing any outdoor burning, be mindful of regulations in place for Spring Forest Fire Hazard Season, which restricts burning within 150 feet of woodland or brush to between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. now through April 30. Crane also says be mindful of what you are burning.
“Regardless of where you are, the state law prohibits burning garbage, tires, buildings, and stuff like that, so you have to remember what you’re burning,” Crane said. “Basically, branches, brush, and stuff like that is about all that you can burn.”
Contact your local fire jurisdiction ahead of major outdoor burning, and never leave an active fire unattended.
State education officials are encouraging colleges and universities to recognize prior learning experiences.
The Council on Postsecondary Education says the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative has launched a year-long initiative aimed at encouraging Kentucky colleges and universities to award academic credit for knowledge gained through work, military, or life experiences.
The CPE says practices like credit for prior learning signal that higher education is for everyone and not just recent high school graduates. Research from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning shows credit for prior learning boosts college enrollment, retention, and completion among nontraditional college students.
The CPE will be working with a select group of colleges and universities to work on introducing CPL practices. The participating campuses will receive coaching from national experts that contributed to a CPL model introduced at Jefferson Community and Technical College.
Expanding CPL is one of several strategies that have been identified in Kentucky’s Adult Learner Action Plan which is aimed at increasing post-traditional adult enrollment. The state has set a goal of increasing the number of working-age Kentuckians with a postsecondary credential to 60 percent by 2030.