The Upper Cumberland is under a flood watch until Thursday afternoon, with National Weather Service predicting heavy rains to extend into the night.
National Weather Service Nashville Chief Meteorologist Krissy Hurley said a watch upgrades into a warning once flash floods occur. She said it is important to take the notice seriously.
“I think the number one thing is if you are in a flood watch like you are tonight into tomorrow, it’s one of those things to pay attention to the weather,” Hurley said. “Know what’s going to happen, don’t just blindly go places if it’s raining; check radar, check the latest warnings that have been issued.”
Once flooding begins, Hurley said the best thing to do is to move to higher grounds and stay within a well-fortified structure. She said that flooding can often come on more suddenly than people can prepare for, so planning a direct course of action that avoids moving much distance is advised.
If you are caught out in a storm, Hurley said you should still try to find high ground of any kind and avoid all heavily flooded areas. She said making it to your original destination is often not worth the risk of going through a flooded road and moving slowly when possible may avoid an accident.
“It takes 12-18 inches of water to take your vehicle completely off the road if it’s moving fast enough, Hurley said. “So it’s one of those things that if you see flooded road, turn around, don’t drown.”
Hurley said that people should take notice of leaks in their homes from past rainfall and do their best to get it fixed, and if you notice an issue has been released, take it seriously. She said flooding is almost a deceiving threat as most people aren’t aware of just how destructive it can be, but that you can take steps to prevent yourself and your loved ones from falling victim, and it starts with following the warning.
“You’ve got to pay attention to, you know, where the heaviest rainfall is occurring, when’s it going to occur, and be prepared at any moment to take the proper action to save you and your family,” Hurley said.
To view the warning, please visit NWS Nashville’s site, all updates to the weather severity will be posted there.
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