Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Local News: Schools closed today; pavement collapses (05/04/09)

Onlookers gathered at Fisherman's Park Saturday morning to watch the rush of water over the dam. Shelbyville Municipal Airport reported 5.82 inches of rainfall between 7 a.m. Friday and about 11 a.m. Saturday. Danny Ray Davis of Bedford County Highway Department urged drivers to use caution, especially in places where hills or curves might prevent a driver from seeing high water until too late.
(T-G Photo by John I. Carney) [Order this photo]

Bedford County Schools are closed today due to high water, and a segment of pavement on North Main Street has collapsed, apparently due to flooding.

"The river flood stage prediction by TVA has changed since yesterday," wrote Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson in an e-mail to the Times-Gazette. "The river was supposed to crest and start going down today. It will probably not crest until tomorrow and will continue to rise. TVA does not yet have a good estimate on how high. We could have some flooding similar to 2003 (Cannon Blvd on the river side for example in the city).

"Residents that live on or near the river in low areas need to constantly monitor the river level and leave early if it appears they will become surrounded by water.

"Also folks need to stay a safe distance from the river. It is very swift and dangerous as this time. This makes a river rescue if someone falls in very difficult and dangerous.

"Please remind folks not to drive through high water on roads as well. As little as 24 inches of water can carry a vehicle away.

"If residents are displaced by flooding they can contact the Red Cross at (615) 893-4272 ... for more information on where to go." The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross is prepared to open emergency shelters should the need arise.

From the National Weather Service web site:

Flood Warning

FLOOD STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NASHVILLE TN

856 AM CDT MON MAY 04 2009

...THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN TENNESSEE..

DUCK RIVER ABOVE MILLTOWN AFFECTING MARSHALL COUNTY

DUCK RIVER AT SHELBYVILLE AFFECTING BEDFORD COUNTY

DUCK RIVER NEAR SHELBYVILLE AFFECTING BEDFORD AND MARSHALL COUNTIES

DUCK RIVER AT COLUMBIA AFFECTING MAURY COUNTY

DUCK RIVER AT CENTERVILLE AFFECTING HICKMAN COUNTY

DUCK RIVER NEAR HURRICANE MILLS AFFECTING HUMPHREYS COUNTY

BUFFALO RIVER NEAR LOBELVILLE AFFECTING PERRY COUNTY

GARRISON FORK NEAR WARTRACE AFFECTING BEDFORD COUNTY

..WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN HAS CAUSED RIVERS AND STREAMS TO GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS.

ADDITIONAL RAIN WILL KEEP THE RIVERS HIGH BEFORE DECREASING LATER THIS WEEK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AVOID FLOODED AREAS ALONG THE RIVER...AND MOVE PERSONAL BELONGINGS TO HIGHER

GROUND. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADS AS THE DEPTH OF WATER MAY BE TOO GREAT

TO PASS...EVEN IN TRUCKS OR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. IF YOU COME ACROSS A FLOODED

ROAD...TURN AROUND DON`T DROWN.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TNC003-050155-

/O.CON.KOHX.FL.W.0011.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/

/SHET1.1.ER.090503T0103Z.090504T1330Z.000000T0000Z.UU/

856 AM CDT MON MAY 04 2009

THE FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR

THE DUCK RIVER AT SHELBYVILLE

* UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

* AT 08AM MONDAY THE STAGE WAS 32.1 FEET

* MINOR FLOODING IS OCCURRING AND FLOODING IS FORECAST

* FLOOD STAGE IS 28.0 FEET

* AT 28.0 FEET...THE PICNIC AREA IN FISHERMANS PARK BEGINS TO FLOOD.