Here are a few photos taken this afternoon near the Galt House in downtown Louisville next to the Ohio River:

What you usually see here are cars in both directions, getting on and off the interstate. Not to mention public parking in the surrounding area. Stating the obvious, but that exit is closed, since the water has been as much as 20 feet higher than it normally is in some places along the river.

We were driving between Louisville and Indianapolis this weekend and saw a closed exit off I-65. The amount of water there was nothing compared to this.

Here’s how local news is covering it:

And the Kentucky Derby is less than a month away. Cleanup has to begin soon (from Louisville Public Media):

Sometime in the next week, city workers in Louisville will start working overtime to clear flood debris from roadways and other public spaces.

Areas along the Ohio River have been inundated with flood waters bringing trash, sticks and logs and other debris. On Tuesday, local businesses along River Road, like River Road BBQ and Haymarket, were under feet of standing water. Near the docks where the Belle of Louisville is parked, water reached the fixtures atop the antique-style light poles. And the Shawnee Golf Course was almost entirely flooded out.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said emergency operations officials did not expect any additional evacuation orders, but he noted flood hazards will be around for days.

“We’re getting to the end of streets that will need to be closed, but these barricades will remain as long as necessary,” he said. “Please, abide by those for your safety and the safety of the first responders who will need to come rescue you.”

The Ohio River is expected to crest Wednesday morning at 37 feet, about 25 feet higher than its typical height at the upper McAlpine Dam. The flood waters will recede slowly, with the river projected to still be in the “moderate” flood zone on Saturday.

Thunder Over Louisville, the kickoff event for the Kentucky Derby season, was scheduled to be held along the river on Saturday, but officials cancelled the show over the weekend.