THREE people have been killed in the Chattanooga floods as residents are told to brace for more torrential rainfall and flooding.
Over six inches of rain brought flash floods that swept through southeastern Tennessee on Tuesday, shutting down a major interstate as first responders jumped into action with water rescues.
Two adults and a child were killed in the severe weather early on Wednesday morning, the Chattanooga Fire Department confirmed.
The floodwater broke a large tree that fell on a car, killing the three people inside.
The victims have yet to be identified, but officials confirmed the three killed were a mother, father, and child, according to the Associated Press.
Officials said the search is continuing for a man who went missing while walking through the flood waters and hasn’t been seen since.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp declared a local state of emergency on Tuesday night as Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly begged residents to stay home.
“Emergency management experts are telling us to brace for more high water and dangerous conditions today as more rain falls,” Kelly said on Wednesday.
“For the sake of our first responders, I’m asking everyone to use caution when getting around today and no matter what do NOT drive through flooded streets.”
A flood watch is in effect for much of middle Tennessee through Wednesday night, the NWS said.
Water continues to rise on roads as drain systems were overwhelmed with 6.41 inches of rain on Tuesday, which is the city’s second-wettest day on record, according to the National Weather Service.
CFD reported conducting dozens of water rescues, including helping people trapped in their homes and cars as water levels quickly rose.
Pictures and videos posted on social media by the CFD showed emergency crews getting people out of floating cars.
Just six inches of moving water has enough force to knock an adult off their feet, while a foot of floodwater can carry away cars.
Several cars were seen floating in the water, and a trailer truck appeared to be stranded near Interstate 24.
I-24 reopened at around 10 pm on Tuesday after the waters receded.
“Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” NWS warned drivers, adding that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
Rescue teams saved residents from three homes in East Ridge, a Chattanooga suburb, that were trapped by rising waters, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
HCSO Sheriff Austin Garrett said it was the most flooding he’s ever seen, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
“This is extremely widespread. It made it difficult for us to even get here ourselves to try to help other people,” he told the outlet.
“So no, I’ve never seen it to this extent, this widespread in so many areas and impacting travel the way it is.”
County officials are expected to visit East Ridge on Wednesday morning to survey the damage
At least one storm shelter has been opened to help Chattanoogans who were forced out of their homes by the flooding.
