Flash flooding caused by record-setting rains swamped roads, flooded homes and killed at least four people in Nashville as emergency crews scrambled to rescue people from houses and vehicles, authorities said on Sunday.
The National Weather Service in Nashville said the rain has subsided for most of Middle Tennessee but warned that “some creeks and rivers are on the rise. Flooded roads will be an issue throughout the day” as it cautioned people against driving on flooded roads.
It declared a flash flood emergency late Saturday, and advised people to stay home and off the roads.
Authorities in Nashville said crews rescued 130 people in the metropolitan area as rescuers responded all night to people in dire straits in Davidson County, the Tennessean reported.
To the south in Williamson County, emergency crews carried out 34 swift water rescues.
A portion of Interstate 40 was temporarily shut down because of high water that left a vehicle stranded, although the driver was able to get to safety.
“Nashville has measured another 0.94″ of rain since midnight. This gives us a 2-day rainfall total of 6.69″. This surpasses the 6.68″ measured on September 13-14, 1979, and gives us our 2nd largest 2-day rainfall total in Nashville’s history, trailing only May 1-2, 2010 (13.57″),” the NWS of Nashville tweeted early Sunday morning.
The four people who died were found in the Nashville area.
The body of a man in a car submerged in a creek was recovered and another man’s body was found on a golf course, Metro Nashville Police tweeted.
Police believe he was swept away by rushing water when he tried to get out of a car that ran off the road and into a culvert.
The bodies of a man and woman were found in a wooded area used as a homeless camp.
With Post wires
