MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WTVF) — Rutherford County Fire Rescue says their crews responded to over 30 water rescue calls between Saturday and Sunday due to flooding.
In all, 12 people had to be rescued from their vehicles. Some of the rescues included:
- A driver was assisted around 8:00 p.m. Saturday night on Sulphur Springs Road.
- Early Sunday morning, two people were rescued from a truck caught in the east fork of the Stones River on Guy James Road.
- On Sunday morning on Twin Oak Drive, water rescue crews checked a total of five houses, evacuating two people from a flooded house. They later evacuated another from the same area on Oak Point Street due to flooding in the home.
- On East Jefferson Pike, two people, seven cats, and three dogs were rescued from their flooded home.
“It’s certainly been nonstop, but our personnel continue to put forth their best efforts for the community we serve, ”Rutherford County Fire Rescue Captain John Ingle said.
Public Safety Director Chris Clark is urging drivers to practice extreme caution on the roads. “If you have to travel today and encounter standing water, it’s best to turn around."
On Saturday afternoon, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Facebook page reported a number of roads that were flooded and impassable. At Epps Mill Road and Auldrige Drive, small vehicles were stalled near the Buchanan Exit of I-24 due to high water on the road.
Water also spilled over at Walter Hill Dam and Nice Mill Dam.
In Smyrna, people were battling Saturday’s severe weather, while also dealing with the aftermath of Thursday’s EF-1 tornado. Nearly two dozen homes were damaged in Clarkston Square neighborhood. Families spent hours putting tarps on their roofs and cleaning up debris ahead of this storm.
Ed lives, who on Addie Drive, said the winds were so powerful Thursday, it lifted his neighbor’s shed into the air and flung it on top of his shed.
“When you go through something like this it definitely gets your attention," he said.
If the tornado taught Ed anything, he says it’s the importance of being prepared and weather aware.
"I’ll tell you, when the storm hit we were prepared. We had our safe zone on and everything we needed... alarm went off and had everything in my phone and we went to our safe zone," he said.
Thankfully, no one was killed in the tornado.
If you don't have to go outside, stay indoors, but if you do decide to drive, take it slow and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Click here to view information on closed/flooded roads in Rutherford County.
The wind has also been knocking down power lines. If you see any down power lines, don't go near them -- assume they are active.
