UPDATE: List of roads closed due to flooding around Blount County; flood warning in effect until 1 p.m. today
From Staff and Wire Reports
Road closures are reported around Blount County this
morning, while the National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a flood warning until 1 p.m.
for urban areas and small streams in Blount County, including the cities of Maryville and
Alcoa.
The warning also includes:
-- Monroe
County, including the cities of Sweetwater and Madisonville;
-- and Sevier
County, including the cities of Sevierville and Gatlinburg.
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 are 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.
