At least 10 people have been killed and 31 are missing after severe flooding in central Tennessee, police said on August 21, local time. Two young children were among the victims.
Krissy Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said Humphreys County, Tennessee, was badly hit, with more than 15 inches (38 cm) of rain falling in the area that day, and 20 to 25 percent of the region’s total rainfall in the morning alone. Several cities are facing a “terrible disaster” and large numbers of people are still trapped in their homes.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has activated a Category 3 emergency and urged people to avoid the affected areas.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee warned residents today to be alert to flooding. The state’s Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard and other agencies have taken emergency measures to deal with the flooding, the National Guard has sent Black Hawk helicopters to the scene to assist in water rescue.
