by Kim Jarrett
The flooding that resulted in the deaths of four people in the Chattanooga area was a once-in-a-century event, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
More than 6.4 inches of rain fell on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown. The total is second only to 9.49 inches that fell in the Chattanooga area in 2011 as a result of Tropical Storm Lee.
“This storm event, which had a 0.2% probability of occurrence, made it a once-in-a-century event and far exceeded the design standard that was used in accordance with state and federal standards,” according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Hamilton County Schools were delayed by two hours on Thursday after closing on Wednesday due to the heavy rain and flooding.
Hamilton County officials said a couple and their 3-year-old son died when a tree, affected by the heavy rain, fell on their car. Authorities are investigating the death of another man who was found in a flooded area.
Barbara Loveless, director of operations for Hamilton County 911, said the agency identified 137 flooding events and 10 water rescues.
Several roads were underwater, including portions of Interstate 24 and State Route 153.
“We have an extensive Incident Management Plan which includes alternate routes when the interstate shuts down,” said Danny Oliver, director of the Tennessee Department of Transportation Region 2. “But with the amount of rain falling quickly, many of our alternate routes were also flooded, so we had to go to plans B and C.”
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Kim Jarrett is an associate editor at The Center Square.
Once in a century? Giess the NWS doesn’t recall the 1972 storm 50 years ago where pre-diked Chickamauga Creek overflowed and flooded I75-24, Eastgate Mall, Brainard Road and Lovell Field (CHA). Water was over a foot deep at the airport alone.