Introduction

Climate plays a significant role in the social and economic well-being of residents in the Barren River Area. It sustains agriculture and helps to attract people and industry to the region. For the most part, the region's climate is a favorable one. Summers are warm and humid, while winters are mild. Spring and fall are generally pleasant and showcase the natural beauty of the Barren River Area. At the same time, a variety of natural hazards related to climate pose threats to the region and its people. Some of these hazards, including drought, heat waves, and cold waves, are associated with normal climatic variability. Others, such as lightning, tornadoes, snow, and ice storms, are associated with storm events that occur with varying frequency.

Though weather is a frequent topic of conversation, people typically develop inaccurate perceptions about the threats associated with climate-related hazards. Public awareness of hazards is enhanced when a damaging storm produces a tornado or results in a flash flood. For some people, particularly those who are young or have lived in a place for only a short period, this heightened awareness is translated into an exaggerated perception of the frequency of such events. Other people often mistakenly rationalize that the occurrence of a hazard reduces the likelihood of another similar event occurring anytime soon. Likewise, hazards associated with longer term climatic fluctuations such as drought can gradually alter perceptions regarding normal climatic conditions.

While most people perceive the threat of natural hazards, people are often unaware of actions that can be taken to mitigate disasters when they occur. However, today more than ever before, individuals and communities can reduce their risk by developing and implementing strategies to mitigate disasters when they occur. The National Weather Service's (NWS) StormReady program relies on community organization to implement an early warning system based on the latest weather monitoring and communication technologies. On a broader scale, FEMA's Project Impact stresses a variety of risk management strategies to mitigate natural hazards. These include creating and enforcing effective building codes and zoning laws. Their Building Performance Assessment Team works to assess the vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure to hazards and strives to develop technologies for building disaster resistant structures, such as tornado safe rooms. Local governments and their planning commissions have the responsbility to organize and implement programs to mitigate natural hazards.

The purpose of this study is to promote disaster planning by documenting climate-related natural hazards in the Barren River Area. These include cold waves, damaging winds, drought, flooding, hail, heat waves, ice storms, lightning, sinkhole flooding and collapse, snowfall, and tornadoes. Historical records are examined to identify frequency and other characteristics of their occurrence. In some cases, distinct temporal and spatial patterns are evident. Impacts and mitigation opportunities are also discussed.

Much of the data supplied in this study was obtained from two sources. Storm Data is a monthly publication of the National Climatic Data Center. As greater attention has been directed to the identification and documentation of weather phenomena, Storm Data has become a more comprehensive source. In addition, climatic data relating to temperature and precipitation were obtained from the Midwestern Climate Information System (MICIS) online database maintained by the Midwestern Regional Climate Center. This database provides access to daily, monthly, and annual climatic records from NWS Cooperative Observer Program sites and first-order stations located at airports and NWS Offices. It also offers database searches to identify significant events in a station's climate record.

Support for this study was provided by Commissioner Billy Ray Smith of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD). Commissioner Smith's support for this prototype study reflects a fundamental concern for the well-being of agricultural and small rural communities in the Commonwealth.

The BRADD has long recognized the importance of weather and climate to the region and its people. In 1975, the BRADD commissioned W. Willard Cockerill to prepare A BRADD Weather Report: Weather and Climate of the Barren River Area Development District. The report documented the region's climate, addressing climatic averages, variations, and trends. It also looked at the threat of destructive storms. Reflecting the time when it was published, the report documented and discussed a cooling trend that had persisted since the 1940s and explained how to use a television to detect a tornado. After the creation of the Kentucky Climate Center, the BRADD commissioned Glen Conner to complete a study, Climatological Summary of the Barren River Area Development District. The report was published in 1979 and provided an extensive summary of climatic data in an assortment of tables, graphs, and maps. Since then, the Kentucky Climate Center has published a variety of reports documenting aspects of the region's climate.

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