Blount, other counties under flood watch until noon Wednesday
From Staff Reports
Blount County will remain under a flood watch until noon Wednesday due to light to moderate rainfall that is expected to continue, bringing an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts.
Other area counties included in the watch include Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, Sevier and McMinn.
The National Weather Service warns that flooding of low lying or flood prone areas could occur and area streams and rivers will rise and may experience some flooding.
Blount County Highway Department Superintendent Bill Dunlap said this morning that Riverford Road, Helton Road, Blockhouse Road and Porter Bridge, the normal low areas, are flooded at this time.
“If it doesn’t let up we’re going to have a lot more flooding,” he said.
Starting at 9 p.m. Monday, Little River came over its banks at Kinzel Springs and an hour later at Dark Island in Townsend. Waters in that area had receded by 4 a.m.
As of 8:30 a.m no roads were closed in Townsend, according to Townsend Police Chief Ronnie Suttles. However, he said the ditch lines were still filled with water.
Alcoa Director of Public Works Kenny Wiggins said the creeks are over their banks and there is ponding on roads, but no roads are closed at this time.
Monday evening, some Townsend residents were advised to evacuate as Little River rose out of its banks due to near-constant rainfall throughout the day.
Blount County Schools will be closed today due to flooding.
Townsend Fire Chief Don Stallions said Monday night residents along the river and its tributaries were advised it could be difficult to get them out quickly if they were trapped behind high water.
Stallions said he knew of a couple of families living along Little River on Dark Island off Carnes Road and Cedar Creek who had decided to ride out the storm.
The Blount County Chapter of the American Red Cross opened a shelter at Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church. At least a couple of people stayed there for at least a time during the evening, Stallions said.
Firefighters warned campgrounds about the potential for flooding and helped shut down propane tanks near the river.
The fire department, along with Townsend Fire Department and Blount Emergency Management Agency, monitored the situation Monday evening and planned to remain through this morning.
Downpours of rain made for some uncomfortable conditions throughout Blount County and the surrounding area Monday, and it may not get any better today, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.
The weather service estimated 1¾ inches of rain had fallen Monday in Maryville and northern Blount County, with Knoxville receiving 1 inch for the day, according to radar.
Don’t look for a whole lot of relief from the rain today, according to Weather Service meteorologist Jerry Hevrdeys. There is a 100 percent chance for more precipitation, and a 90 percent chance for it to continue into tonight.
However, there may be a break on Wednesday with some drying out during the day and evening. But Thursday, Hevrdeys said the rain may make a comeback, thanks to another high-powered system coming in. The rain should be gone by Friday, he said.
Today’s highs will be in upper 40s, with lows in lower 40s. Wednesday’s highs are predicted to be in the lower 50s, with lows in the lower to mid-30s. Thursday’s and Friday’s highs should be in the mid-40s, with lows in the 20s, with some warming up by Saturday with highs in the lower 50s, with lows in the lower 30s.
“These will be more seasonal temperatures,” Hevrdeys said.
East Tennessee was under a flood watch at dawn Monday, and there was a winter weather advisory posted for West Tennessee. No major flooding was reported, however.
Heavy rain washed away at least one rural road, causing minor evacuations, and flooding has closed some schools. No deaths or injuries were reported.
In Middle Tennessee, officials evacuated residents of a mobile home park in Waverly Sunday as water rose.
