Ten people are dead and approximately 40 people are missing in Humphreys County after severe flooding rocked the community Saturday.
Crews were going house to house in search of the missing people late Saturday, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told The Tennessean. Davis said the flooding event is the worst he has seen in his 28 years with the department.
Power outages and a lack cell phone service has compounded the problems. Portable units will be brought in to help establish communication lines, Davis said.
Rural roads and highways throughout Humphreys County were washed away Saturday.
The Tennessee National Guard was deployed to the county to assist residents there after up to 12 inches of rain fell in parts of Middle Tennessee on Saturday and caused catastrophic flooding.
More than 15 inches fell in Humphreys County, prompting water rescues, flooding roadways and briefly closing a large section of Interstate 40. The Piney River also shattered record water levels, the National Weather Service Nashville reported.
A state of emergency is in effect for Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties. A flash flood warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. The severe weather spurred a tornado warning Saturday evening.
Humphreys County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards said several people were missing in a text message early Saturday afternoon.
The Tennessee Valley Authority said 14.5 inches fell in McEwen, which is in Humphreys County, and local totals may approach 17 inches as reports come in. NWS Nashville meteorologist Krissy Hurley told The Tennessean parts of Hickman County got 11.66 inches of rain early Saturday. Lyles, also in Hickman County, got 9.05 inches, according to volunteers who help measure rainfall for the agency.
The river gauge on the Piney River at Vernon in Hickman County measured nearly 32 feet Saturday, shattering the river’s record crest in 2019 by close to 12 feet, the NWS reported.
‘I’M A NERVOUS WRECK’:Dickson, Centerville residents anxious as flooding prompts water rescues
In Humphreys County, Hurley called the situation in cities like Waverly and McEwen a “dire, catastrophic situation.”
“People are trapped in their homes and have no way to get out,” she said. “Water is up to their necks. It is catastrophic — the worst kind of situation.”
The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Williamson County assisted affected counties Saturday. The Tennessee Department of Health is working with local nursing homes to make sure staff can access the facilities.
A large portion of Interstate 40 near mile marker 153 reopened after being closed in both directions near Bucksnort in Hickman County and part of Humphreys County due to the rain. Highway 70 in Waverly remained closed Saturday night from flooding.
Tennessean
