Flash Floods in Tennessee Claim Lives
At least three individuals, including a child, have lost their lives due to a flash flood that struck Tennessee, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency.
According to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management, a family comprised of two adults and one child died when a tree fell on their vehicle in East Ridge, near Chattanooga, on Wednesday morning amid severe storms.
One more person is still missing after eyewitnesses reported seeing him being carried away by floodwaters. Emergency teams are searching for him but are uncertain if he managed to escape.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Morristown noted that Chattanooga Airport experienced 6.42 inches of rain on Tuesday, marking it as the second wettest day in the city’s recorded history since 1879.
Rescue efforts were extensive on Tuesday evening, with firefighters working for hours to retrieve residents from flooded homes and vehicles in Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga.
“Firefighters spent hours searching submerged cars for trapped individuals. This required a significant coordinated response involving city, county, and state agencies, as flash flooding led to hazardous situations in Chattanooga,” stated the local fire department.
Additionally, the sheriff’s office mentioned in a Facebook post that “the occupants of three houses were unable to evacuate due to rising waters, and swift-water rescue teams assisted them into inflatable boats for safety.”
In one particular case, firefighters helped six people escape a van that was nearly washed away as water levels surged from a nearby creek, according to the Chattanooga Fire Department.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has issued a local state of emergency.
“After discussions with the Hamilton County Director of Emergency Management, I have declared a Local State of Emergency as first responders across the area deal with flash flooding,” Wamp said in a statement. “We are in contact with TEMA and the Governor’s Office and will continue to evaluate the damage overnight and into tomorrow. We urge the public to be extremely cautious.”
As of Wednesday, flash flood warnings were still in effect for various areas in Tennessee, including Knoxville.
