Dozens of guests at the Candlewood Suites on the corner of Zorn Avenue and River Road were rescued by boat Monday afternoon after floodwaters rose around the east Louisville hotel, officials said.
Workers from various agencies, including Louisville Metro Emergency Medical Services, Louisville Metro Police, Louisville Division of Fire and the Louisville Metro Emergency Management Agency, worked to rescue 61 hotel guests and five other people stranded at a nearby gas station using four boats, EMA director Jody Meiman said during a news conference following the rescue operation.
The hotel is making lodging arrangements for the impacted guests at other hotels around the city, and TARC provided buses to help transport them, Meiman said.
Jean and Xavier Lewis, from the Fort Knox area, stayed at the Candlewood Suites Sunday night ahead of an eye operation for Xavier at a local hospital Monday.
The encroaching floodwaters derailed those plans, however. Instead of making it to the appointment on time, they were two of the people rescued. Xavier’s eye appointment will have to wait until next Monday, the couple said.
They’ll also have to wait for the water to recede before they can retrieve their car, though it’s unclear when that will be, officials said.
“The water is still coming up,” Meiman said. “It’s predicted to get higher, so it was a good thing we got it when we got it this morning.”
Hotel guests who were trapped by high water at the Candlewood Suites Monday afternoon watch and wait for their luggage as well as others after flooding from the Ohio River covered Zorn Avenue and River Road as well as exit and entrance ramps to Interstate 71. April 7, 2025.
Meiman said this situation can be a lesson for others around the city to monitor flooding risks around their residences and consider self-evacuation if necessary.
“People who live by the river, people who live close to the water that may have expected to ride this out at home, they need to take a look and see and make sure that they’re not waiting to the last minute to call for help if they need it or go ahead and seek other locations with family or friends,” Meiman said.
Kevin Pereira of Florida was another hotel guest who was rescued.
Pereira travels around the country installing home security systems for work, but he knew his odds of getting to work Monday morning were slim when he looked out his hotel room window to see floodwaters encircling the building.
He’s been in Louisville for about two weeks, and the persistent storms, rain and now flooding haven’t left a strong impression of the city’s weather.
He’ll also have to wait to get his car and missed out on at least a day’s worth of pay.
“We just keep moving along. I mean, with everything that’s going on right now, this is nothing,” Pereira said.
“I’m glad to be safe,” he continued, duffel bag slung over his shoulder as he walked toward a bus to join others who were rescued.
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Dozens rescued from flooding at Candlewood Suites in east Louisville