Smoky Mountain Journal -Flooding Leads To School Closings, States Of Emergency In Some East Tennessee Counties




The Great Smoky Mountain Journal Source: Fox News Posted: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:32 PM

Flooding Leads To School Closings, States Of Emergency In Some East Tennessee Counties
Flooding engulfed some East Tennessee roads Sunday, sending streets under water, closing down schools and prompting the declaration of a state of emergency. In a post to its Facebook page, the Claiborne County Office of Emergency Management Homeland Security said Mayor Daniels declared a state of emergency for Claiborne County. Claiborne County authorities also said all Claiborne County schools will be closed Monday, February 12, because of flooding. The Oliver Springs Police Department tweeted a photo of what appears to be a car almost completely submerged in water. Police cautioned drivers to be careful, even though the water level is slowing going back down. The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for East Tennessee. This means there's a potential for flooding all across East Tennessee and Southeastern Kentucky. Several counties faced a total of 2 to 3 inches of rain, with isolated higher amounts. While that may not seem like a high amount to some, it will accumulate quickly in low-lying areas. Minor river flooding is possible Sunday evening. If there is a spot that East Tennesseans know is notorious for flooding, it's going to be one of the first to back up as several areas are inundated with rain. Standing water will be a problem on roads, and could easily lead to hydroplaning. While weekend traffic is generally better than a weekday, residents need to be prepared for slowdowns and increase that following distance. There's a long-time saying in weather, "Turn Around, Don't Drown" (TADD), because if a road is covered in water, it isn't safe to try and cross it. Streams, creeks, and rivers will start to run high this weekend as well, as the rain water flows to these waterways. They'll also be the last to recede. If a flood warning or advisory is issued for a particular area, find out immediately via the WVLT News app. Don't forget to turn on the weather notifications in your app. Flooding Facts: Moving water has a lot of force! - 6 inches can carry away an adult - 12 inches can carry away a small car - 18+ inches can carry away a large vehicle