EDITOR'S NOTE: The Tennessean is on the ground in Humphreys Countyto cover the aftermath of the devastating floods that rocked parts of Middle Tennessee. Here's how to get Tuesday's most recent updates as damage is assessed and recovery begins:
The Tennessee National Guard was deployed to Humphreys County to assist residentsafter 15 inches of rain devastatedthe area on Saturday,killing 21 people and leaving dozens missing.
An estimated 40 people are missing in Humphreys County after severe flooding rocked the community and surrounding areas in Middle Tennessee.
Between 8 and 15 inches of rain fell acrossHouston, Humphreys, Dicksonand Hickman counties, according to the National Weather Service. In McEwen, located in Humphreys County, 14.5 inches of rain fell over 12 hours, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. Local totals may approach 17 inches as more reports come in, TVA said.
TheTennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency as it coordinated the statewide effort to help the affected counties.
Water rescue teams from across the state deployed toHumphreys County, including theTennessee Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team. Water rescuecrews from Nashville, Dickson County andWilliamson County were also dispatched.
NWS Nashville meteorologist Krissy Hurley said theNWS heard reports of Humphreys County residents trapped in homes with water up to their necks.
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"It is catastrophic," Hurley said. "The worst kind of situation."
'I have nothing': Waverly woman shares harrowing rescue
A Waverly couple was rescued from the attic of their home after being stranded for several hours.
“Hell. That’s what we had to go through,” said 48-year-old Cindy Dunn.
She and her husband, Jimmy Dunn, 49, were rescued by a crew driving a bulldozer that raised the bucket up to their attic window.Now, they are heading to Clarksville with family.
She said theylost everything.
“I have no credit cards. I have no bank cards. No IDs. I have nothing,” she said.
Their morning began normally enough, according to Cindy Dunn said.
“My husband said one minute he was (watching TV news) and the next minute we had no garage,” she said.
Her husband woke her up to say her car had floated to the backyard. Thewater in their house rose to at least 6 feet high,forcing them into the attic. She said climbing onto their rooftop was not an option.
“My husband is dealing with cancer. He’s going through chemotherapy," she said. "And I am an amputee. So there was no going anywhere besides the attic."
Cindy Dunn said their home and the neighboring houses “are gone.”
River level records broken:Rainfall, river level records shattered in Middle Tennessee flash flood
Rare 'flash flood emergency' issued; records broken
NWS Nashville issued a rare "flash flood emergency" forHouston, Humphreys, Dickson and Hickman counties as the rain fell.
Hurley said a record-level buildup ofmoisture in the atmosphere helped drive Saturday's rainfall. She said the floods were aggravated bystorms that "trained," meaning theymoved across the same areas over and over again.
Hurley said it's difficultto determine a daily rainfall record in the four affected countiesbecause the NWS does nothave official observation sites in the area. Volunteers help relay reports of rainfall totals.
Still, Hurley was confident Saturday easily surpassed the daily rainfall recordfor the region.
The Piney River, which runs through Hickman County, shattered its record high as it reached 31.8 feet by midday, NWS Nashville said. The previous record was 20.08 feet, set in February 2019.
By comparison, Saturday's rainfall totals surpass that of the deadly March 2021 flash flooding in the Nashville area, which averaged between 6 and 8 inches. In September 2020, the Nolensville and Mt. Pleasant areas experienced flooding after 5 to 8 inches of rainfall.
In the historic May 2010 flood in Tennessee, the heaviest rainfall averaged between 14 and 15 inches in just two days acrossDavidson, Williamson, Dickson, Hickman, Benton, Perryand Humphreys counties.
Agencies statewide rush to help
An emergency operations center was set up in Nashville to coordinate response to the floods, TEMA reported.Shelters were also opened in Dickson, Hickman and Humphreys counties. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was on hand in all four of the affected counties to help with traffic, water rescues and general law enforcement duties, TEMA said.
Gov. Bill Lee tweeted about the situation around 12:30 p.m. Saturday and urged caution for those in the affected areas.
"We are actively working with emergency response officials & first responders as they support Tennesseans in flooded areas," Lee wrote.
The Tennessee National Guard, Tennessee Department of Transportation, TennesseeDepartment of Education, TennesseeDepartment of Human Needs, TennesseeDepartment of Environment and Conservation,Tennessee Fire Mutual Aid, and more were involved, according to TEMA.
Reach Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com and on Twitter @rachelannwegner.Reach Brinley Hineman atbhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter@brinleyhineman.
