Tennessee flooding: Pictures show ‘devastating loss’ as search begins for more than 40 missing
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Your support makes all the difference.A ranch foreman who worked for country music superstar Loretta Lynn and two twin toddlers were among the 22 people who tragically lost their lives as the US town of Waverly, Tennessee, and its surrounding counties were devastated by catastrophic flash flooding over the weekend, the disaster brought on by torrential rainfall that struck without warning.
Search and rescue efforts continue with an estimated 20 people still missing as local citizens say they were caught totally off guard by the 17 inches of rain that hammered the area over 24 hours - much of it within a six-hour window.
Responding to the tragedy, US president Joe Biden expressed his sincere condolences from the White House and said: “We’ve reached out to the community and we stand ready to offer them support.”
Waverly public safety officials have posted a partial list of those missing in the flood, asking the public’s help in locating them.
Survivors described the floodwaters as rushing in like a tsunami.
“All of a sudden it was like a tidal wave that just came over the road and into my yard,” Casey Hipshire told CNN. “Next thing I know the water is in my house, and it’s up to my chest.”
Waverly survivor held 84-year-old mother for three hours as their porch was flooded, report says
David Allen of Waverly, Tennessee says he saved his mother’s life by holding onto her for three hours as the waters rose over their porch.
“His 84-year old mother is safe now, but can’t swim,” reporter Abby Lee Hood wrote after interviewing Mr Allen.
Aerial footage shows devastation in Waverly, Tennessee
Aerial footage from WJZ shows the smoking ruins of homes in Waverly, Tennessee, which has been devastated by a historic flood.
‘We’re about to die!’ Survivors recall terrifying moments
Survivors of the Waverly flood have told the Weather Channel their harrowing stories.
“I was hearing little kids’ voices, ‘We’re about to die! We’re about to die!’” one traumatized man told the station. “That’s so heartbreaking.”
“There was no saving anything,” another woman said.
Kamala Harris says she’s ‘praying’ for flood victims’ families
Vice President Kamala Harris has offered her condolences to the families affected by the flooding in Tennessee.
“Doug and I are praying for the families impacted by the terrible flash flooding in Tennessee, and we offer our deepest condolences for those who have lost loved ones,” the vice president said on Twitter. “Our administration stands ready to help during this difficult period.”
Shocking photos show Tennessee’s devastation
Photos posted by the Weather Channel show the shocking devastation in Tennessee after historic flash floods battered the state. The pictures show overturned cars, destroyed homes, and piles of vehicles smashed into each other.
Desperate family searches for missing 15-year-old daughter
A family in Waverly, Tennessee is asking for the public’s help in finding 15-year-old Lilly Bryant, who was swept away in the floodwaters.
Lilly has blonde hair, is 5’7” tall, and was wearing a pink top and blue shorts when she was last seen.
“My sister is just devastated,” the girl’s aunt told WKRN. “She’s broken down so many times she can’t even speak. I’m pretty much all cried out.”
Governor discusses ‘devastating’ floods, thanks volunteers
In a radio interview, Tennessee governor Bill Lee discussed the “devastating” floods in his state, but also said volunteer efforts there have provided “hope.”
“The coordinated response has been impressive and significant,” Mr Lee told host Brian Wilson. “It’s kind of the intersection between tragedy and response to tragedy that provides so much hope and encouragement in the midst of what seems to be hopeless in the moment.”
Tennessee senator thanks volunteers for ‘coming together'
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee has praised the volunteers helping with the recovery effort in her state as it recovers from deadly floods.
“As I witnessed firsthand yesterday, the devastation in Humphreys County is extensive,” Ms Blackburn tweeted. “But Tennesseans are resilient, and it’s great to see so many volunteers already coming together to help their neighbors in need.”
Woman describes losing her home in flood
A woman in Tennessee spoke with CNN about losing her home in the massive flood that swept through Waverly.
She told the network that there was “a lot of heartache” in the wake of the devastating weather event.
Rescue crews are still working to find survivors amid the destruction left by the flood.
What caused the flooding disaster in Tennessee?
Climate change and inadequate dams have both likely played a role in causing the disaster in Tennessee, The Independent’s Kelsie Sandoval reports.
In 2020, US Representative Jim Cooper sponsored a bill that allowed two dams in Nashville to be used to control future floods, but the state’s plan doesn’t cover flooding that occurs in other areas of the state, leaving many people unprotected.
Meanwhile, researchers have found that extreme weather, like heavy rains that can trigger flash floods, are becoming more frequent because of the climate crisis.
Read more here.
What has caused the flooding disaster in Tennessee?
Humphreys County saw up to 17 inches of rainfall on Saturday – besting the state’s previous record for one-day rainfall by more than three inches
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