We had a meeting today with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service in Jessamine County along with the Emergency Management Teams from Jessamine, Fayette and Madison counties to discuss the impact and predictions of flooding on the Valley View Ferry and the Valley View Community.

Andrea Schoettmer from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been a tremendous help to the ferry. A few of the highlights are:

• The Valley View Ferry is now a designated Weather Spotter, because of our location in the valley we were basically in a RADAR blind spot and now we have the ability to report weather for the local community that they can access via radio and online.
• NOAA is establishing a flood prediction gauge AT the Valley View Ferry so that our passengers can go online and see what the river is expected to do during periods of flooding. THIS WILL INCLUDE, what local roads will be subject to flooding giving residents more time to prepare OR evacuate.
• The meeting included time for the local emergency management teams and the ferry to communicate on how best to support each other to best serve the communities AND Valley View. Part of this plan is to allow the local emergency management team to use our backup rescue boats, particularly when Carvers Ferry Road is cut off by water.

THIS WAS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD FOR SAFETY AND WE APPRECIATE THE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND Andrea Shoettmer OF NOAA FOR HELPING US MAKE THIS POSSIBLE !!!!!