Tennessee hit by flooding; 7 dead

NASHVILLE, May 2 (UPI) -- A slow-moving storm has dumped more than 2 feet of rain on parts of Tennessee since Friday, causing at least seven deaths, authorities said.

Nashville broke its records Saturday and Sunday for wettest day, wettest 2-day period and wettest May overall, measuring nearly 14 inches of rain from the storm, the Weather Chanel reported.

Flooding was expected throughout the Tennessee and Ohio valleys, and heavy rains are set to hit Atlanta Monday.

People in Tennessee Sunday dealt with flooding that has already claimed at least seven lives, officials said.

The (Nashville) Tennessean reported the high waters, caused by up to 10 inches of rain, forced the closing of major highways and sent thousands of people fleeing from their homes in Nashville.

"It's only going to get worse; we may get as much as 4 to 5 inches more over the next 36 hours," the newspaper quoted Nashville Mayor Karl Dean as saying Saturday night.

The flood-related deaths were reported Saturday in Davidson, Williamson, Stewart and Carroll counties.

Flooded roads in the area were expected to remain closed Sunday and state Transportation Department spokeswoman B.J. Doughty warned motorists: "Don't go around a barricade. If you come to high water, stop. The secondary routes could be worse in many locations. We're running out of alternates."

The Tennessean reported most of the state was affected by flooding.

"We won't know the real picture of the damage until the water levels start to go down," Jeremy Heidt of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said. "We've had landslides and (bridges) washed out, so we know there is a significant amount of damage.

"We will begin damage assessment as the water goes down and the sun comes out."

State and local workers were being pressed into action, emergency shelters were being opened and boats were on standby for rescues, the newspaper said. Several dozen boat rescues had already been carried out in the Nashville area.

Downtown Lebanon was under 2 feet of water, officials said.

"It's the worst I've seen it in the last 20 years," Lebanon Public Works Commissioner Jeff Baines told The Tennessean.

AccuWeather.com Sunday forecast severe storms and possible flooding for Louisiana all the way to New York. The weather service said flood waters would continue to hinder travel from western Kentucky into eastern Arkansas. The worst weather is predicted for Alabama.

AccuWeather said New Orleans; Montgomery, Ala.; Nashville; Atlanta; Louisville, Ky.; Pittsburgh; and Buffalo and Syracuse in New York were among the major cities expected to be hit Sunday.

The wet weather is expected to linger into Monday.