Emergency management officials warning residents across the Upper Cumberland to prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding during the next 48 hours.
A weather system moving through the region threatens to drop up to four inches of rain through Sunday. Putnam County Deputy Director of Emergency Management Tyler Smith said the primary concern involves excessive runoff that will likely flood creeks, streams, and low-lying areas.
“If you’re in a flood-prone area, you know, seek higher ground, go to somebody else’s house that’s not in a flood-prone area before the flooding starts if you feel that it’s going to get really bad in your area,” Smith said. “So that’s why we tell everybody to, you know, keep up to date on the latest weather conditions.”
Jackson County EMA Director Keith Bean said said his county often faces flash flooding when water from Putnam County travels downstream through local creeks.
“If your place is prone to flooding, you might find somewhere to go for the weekend or pay attention to it if it starts rising and get out,” Bean said. “And you know, try not to put the volunteers and the rescue in danger of trying to get you out when it does flood.”
Smith said specific locations in Putnam County are particularly susceptible to street flooding, including Willow Avenue from Spring Street to Jackson Street and Broad Street. Smith said while some areas received approximately one inch of rain yesterday, the upcoming forecast of three to four inches poses a much higher risk for significant ponding on roadways.
“You never know if the road’s been washed away, and people take chances, and they’ll drive into a flooded road and they can’t see it, and then their car will go off into a hole or where it’s been washed away,” Smith said. “So best thing to do if we see a flooded road is just to not to go through that high water and then turn around and seek alternate routes.”
Bean said saturated soil creates secondary hazards beyond rising water, such as falling timber. Bean said heavy rain causes tree roots to lose their grip, which can lead to trees falling across roadways without warning.
“Just drive slow and pay attention,” Bean said. “Avoid the flooded areas and possibly the trees in the road.”
Smith said local swift water rescue teams are already active in the region, having recently assisted Pickett County with residents stranded by a rising creek. Smith said emergency personnel will continue to monitor the heaviest rainfall totals throughout the weekend to determine where rescue teams may need to respond.
