Dozens rescued from flooding in NC and Tennessee — and more bad weather is on the way
Rescuers have pulled dozens of people and pets from cars, apartments and backyards in Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee as flood waters steadily climbed in the last week, media outlets report — and it’s not over yet.
Another storm system islooming and expected to hit the Tennessee Valley and Southern Appalachians Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued a hazardous weather outlook, high wind warning and flash flood watch for the region.
“Most of the precipitation will quickly occur in a one to two hour period along the line as it is moving through,” forecasters said. “The quick movement of the line will limit significant flood issues, but because of already high stream flows and saturated soils, will continue the Flash Flood Watch.”
What’s expected?
Temperatures were in the 60s near Pigeon Forge Airport in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on Wednesday with a 30 percent risk of showers, according to the weather service. The storm should arrive by nightfall.
Winds between 25 and 40 mph — with some gusts reaching 70 mph — are expected through Wednesday night into Thursday morning across the mountains and foothills, forecasters said. Showers and thunderstorms will accompany them.
“Locally heavy rainfall will lead to the possibility of flash flooding,” the hazardous weather outlooks states. “A flash flood watch is in effect for most of the area for tonight. Strong to marginally severe thunderstorms may also be possible across the southern Tennessee Valley and southern Cumberland Plateau, with the potential for isolated damaging wind gusts late tonight and a very low chance of an isolated, brief tornado.”
Downed trees and power lines are also a risk, according to the NWS. Forecasters urged people not to traveland not be outside near trees or indoors near windows.
“If possible, remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm,” the high wind warning states.
While only one to two inches of rain is expected, forecasters said the “already saturated ground will lead to the possibility of flash flooding.”
Under a watch, the weather service warns conditions are favorable for flash flooding.
“You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take quick action if flooding is observed or a Flash Flood Warning is issued,” forecasters said. “If you come to a closed or flooded road... turn around! Don’t drown!”
Damage already done
Water rescues spiked starting Feb. 5, when the first storm system carrying tornadoes and excessive rainfall moved through, media outlets reported.
Authorities in Polk County, North Carolina, told WLOS dozens of people — including children — had to be saved on Feb. 6. The rescues continued through Tuesday from the foothills of North Carolina to the Tennessee border as rainfall plagued the region.
Rutherford County Fire and Rescue in Tennessee saved a family by boat on Feb. 5, WSMV reported. The family had to climb out of a second story window after Middle Tennessee Electric cut power to the home.
The fire chief in Columbus, North Carolina, told WLOS that a team of rescuers had to remove 15 children trapped in a daycare when flood waters started to rise on Feb. 6.
In Winston Salem, rescue crews pulled residents from an apartment complex that was flooded, the Winston-Salem Journal reported. Two teenagers “clinging to a tree in rushing floodwaters” also had to be saved in Lexington, North Carolina, according to The Dispatch.
Over the border in Hawkins County, Tennessee, a rescue squad saved someone from a car that had crashed into a ditch filled with flood water, WVLT reported.
Electrical workers in nearby Johnson County also pulled off a daring rescue on Tuesday after a woman got trapped in her truck in flood waters, WCYB reported. They used a bucket designed for reaching lofty power lines to save her.
