At least four dead in Tenn. after flash flooding, tornado hits south

March 29, 2021 Amber28 US 0

A truck drives through water on the road Sunday, March 28, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. Heavy rain across Tennessee late Saturday and early Sunday flooded homes and roads as a line of severe storms crossed the state. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 8:18 AM PT – Monday, March 29, 2021

Nashville Mayor John Cooper held a press conference Sunday addressing the city’s response to flash flooding and the four fatalities that resulted from the storm.

City police said one of the fatalities was a 65-year-old man who was swept away by flood waters when getting out of his car. Another was a 70-year-old man who was submerged in his car in a flooded Walmart parking lot.

“Metro is currently investigating four deaths believed to have been caused by the storm,” Mayor Cooper stated. “That is shocking and we send our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of those who died.”

City safety officials rescued more than 150 people from vehicles and homes Sunday morning. Rescue efforts have continued into Monday.

In a noon news conference, Chief Drake identified the deceased flood victim from the Wal-Mart incident as a man, 70. The Nashboro victim is a man, 65. A woman, 46, & a man, 64, were found deceased at the homeless camp off Edmondson Pk. pic.twitter.com/xkkiw0qtoX

— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) March 28, 2021

Nashville Electric Service restored power to 900 of the 5,000 homes that lost it due to downed power lines.

Rainfall radar showed the metro Nashville area received between seven and nine inches of rainfall, which is the second largest total on record for the city. Meteorologists said that the fast falling rain, after months of little precipitation, caused rivers, creeks and lakes to breach and flood surrounding areas.

According to local officials, mass evacuations were issued throughout Nashville. However, officials said several people remained trapped in by rising waters with some taking shelter in their attics or even clinging on to trees.

Additionally, homes were flipped over from storms in Arkansas and a tornado struck eastern Texas. This followed days of severe weather and roughly two dozen tornadoes hitting the south.