At least 16 dead in flooding in US state of Tennessee

Devastating floods in the southern US state of Tennessee have left at least 16 people dead and dozens missing, local officials said Sunday in what they warned was a preliminary toll.

Tennessee was hit Saturday by what meteorologists called historic storms and flooding, dumping 15 inches or more of rain(38 centimeters).

Rural roads, state highways and bridges were washed out and widespread power outages affected thousands of people.

As of 3:00 pm local time (2000 GMT) on Sunday the Tennessee Department of Health confirmed 16 weather-related fatalities in Humphreys County.

However, it warned that the figure "is preliminary and pending further updates from local medical officials."

Nashville newspaper The Tennesseean reported a death toll of 21, citing the Humphreys County division of emergency management.

Search and rescue operations were continuing Sunday, with workers going from home to home to search for victims or those needing assistance, local media reported.

Humphreys County is in the center of the state, about a 90-minute drive west of Nashville, the country music center.

In an afternoon press conference in Washington President Joe Biden began by expressing his "deepest condolences for the sudden and tragic loss of life" in Tennessee.

"I've asked the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) administrator to speak to Governor (Bill) Lee of Tennessee right away" and offer any assistance needed.

Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told a CNN affiliate that the dead included two toddlers. Davis himself lost a friend to the floods.

"They just went and got one of my best friends and recovered him. He drowned in this," the sheriff said. "It's tough, but we're going to move forward."

Half a dozen children were also missing, Davis said.

Authorities imposed a nighttime curfew as efforts to account for the missing continued.

Photos posted on social media showed a row of homes nearly submerged in brown floodwater, cars flipped over or piled on top of one another, and roads covered in mud and debris. One picture showed a lone person sitting on a rooftop, awaiting rescue.

Local officials in the hard-hit town of Waverly likened the unusually intense storm to a hurricane or a tornado, and said water rose so quickly that some people were unable to escape.

The Piney River in nearby Hickman County crested nearly 12 feet (3.6 meters) above its historic record high, a local National Weather Service office said.

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

Two dead, 20 missing in eastern US flooding
Washington (AFP) Aug 19, 2021
Two people have died and 20 others are missing in the eastern US state of North Carolina after heavy rains led to massive flooding, officials said Thursday. Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after Tropical Storm Fred dumped nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of rain in western parts of the state in recent days. "Historic" flooding is taking place in Haywood County along the Pigeon River, Cooper's office said in a statement. Ground, water and aerial rescue teams wer ... read more