Tennessee | August 24, 2021
Crews up against 10-mile stretch of ‘mass devastation’ in search for flooding victims
Tennessee | August 24, 2021
Search efforts for victims of the weekend’s catastrophic flash flooding continue Monday. From city limit to city limit, rescue teams are up against about a 10-mile stretch of “mass devastation” Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis tells FOX 17 News.
The unimaginable damage starts around a half mile outside of McEwen near Durham Lane and continues all the way to the Trace Creek area down on the west end of Waverly. Crews are still grappling with what’s left behind after more than 17 inches of rain drenched the area in just 24 hours over the weekend, shattering Middle Tennessee’s record for 24-hour rainfall… (Excerpts from Fox 17)
Tennessee | August 24, 2021
Mother recounts tragic moments before her 7-month-old twins were swept away in floodwaters
Tennessee | August 24, 2021
While there are many loved ones still searching for family members Monday night in Tennessee, others are planning something they never wanted to imagine—including a family who lost their seven-month-old twins.
“It was the scariest thing of my life,” says Danielle Hall, the mother of Riliegh and Ryan, seven-month-old twins who lost their lives in the Waverly flooding.
“Ryan was my one and only boy that I prayed so hard for and he always smiled. That boy was the happiest baby I’ve ever seen in my life,” says Hall… (Excerpt from Fox 17)
Tennessee | August 24, 2021
Bipartisan Group of Tennessee Lawmakers Call on President Biden to Approve Emergency Declaration for Flooded Areas
Tennessee | August 24, 2021
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) joined Representatives Mark Green (R-TN-07) and Jim Cooper (D-TN-05) and urged President Joe Biden to approve Governor Bill Lee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration due to flooding throughout in Middle Tennessee.
In the attempt to bridge the gap between the federal and state government, the group of lawmakers pledged to provide the Biden administration with any assistance needed to expeditiously approve the governor’s request.
“We write to urge swift approval of Governor Bill Lee’s request for an expedited major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act due to catastrophic flooding caused by record-setting rainfall on August 21, 2021,” the group wrote in their letter.
Lee is preparing to issue the request after several of the lawmakers toured the region that the dramatic flooding that left at least 22 people in Tennessee have died with dozens more missing Monday. Search and rescue efforts have continued throughout the area.
“What we saw today was devastation at a level that is absolutely heartbreaking. What we’ve seen is the Tennessee spirit at the same time. We’ve seen people that have lost family members, people that don’t know where family members are, but we’ve seen Tennesseans come to aid. I was so touched to see first responders all over Tennessee there on the ground, doing everything they can to help address this problem,” Senator Hagerty said while assessing the damage… (Excerpts from the Tennessee Star)
Tennessee | August 23, 2021
At least 21 dead, officials name many missing in Middle Tennessee floods
Tennessee | August 23, 2021
At least 21 people are dead and many people are missing after historic, catastrophic rainfall this weekend, Waverly authorities confirm.
Those deaths are all from Humphreys County and 20 of which occurred in Waverly, authorities said. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency says the state health department has confirmed at least 16 weather-related fatalities, but that number could rise.
Family tells FOX 17 News that two of those killed in the flooding were 7-month-old twins who were swept away from their father’s arms as rain poured down. County legend Loretta Lynn said her beloved friend and the foreman at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills also lost his life after being swept away in flood waters.
Video: Loretta Lynn’s Ranch hit hard by flooding in Humphreys County
More than 17 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in McEwen, shattering Middle Tennessee’s previous record 24-hour rainfall… (Excerpts from Fox 17)