Water rises; schools to close early

Water was rising across northern Bedford County at midday today as moderate to heavy rain continued to fall.

Schools were scheduled to close at 2 p.m. today. School Superintendent Ed Gray said he anticipated that some bus drivers would need to backtrack rather than cross standing water, and so the system wanted to allow time for that.

Waves were lapping at the edges of Liberty Pike (State Highway 269) about a mile north of Bell Buckle near the Parker Sain Road intersection. Parker Sain Road itself was impassable just off 269.

WKRN-TV is reporting that flooding in Christiana is heavy enough that emergency shelters have been opened in Rutherford County.

However, Bedford County Highway Superintendent Stanley Smotherman said about 10:45 that his department has had only limited reports of flooding here. Smotherman mentioned the Liberty Pike situation and there have been reports of a flooded driveway on Happy Valley Road.

Water was over a bridge on County Line Road and across Bridge Street in Bell Buckle, according to the Bedford County Sheriff's Department.

A deputy was also checking waters over Matt Drive in Covered Bridge Estates subdivision near Bell Buckle.

Bugscuffle Road near Wartrace is flooded, but that is a low-lying road which floods easily and frequently.

Smotherman said the Unionville and Rover areas have had more problems with heavy rain than the Bell Buckle and Deason areas.