Rural Areas of Tennessee and Northeast Devastated by Historic Flooding, Tropical Storm Henri
Henri Drenches East Coast 082421
What was Tropical Storm Henri is continuing to weaken early this week,but remains a threat due to heavy rain, which is causing flooding.
The storm made landfall Sunday along the coast of Rhode Island with a storm surge that flooded streets. Up to 12 inches of rain was forecasted for Northern New Jersey and Southern New York. The storm knocked out power to tens of thousands, also a concern with heat on the way this week.
"Very concerned about the fact that we have a heat wave coming in the 90-degree territory by Tuesday, and that's why we have a very great deal of importance in getting everybody back their electricity," says Rhone Island Governor Daniel McKee (D).
Search Crews Searching Flooded Areas of Tennessee
Extreme flooding is also impacting areas of Tennessee. Search crews are continuing to work through shattered homes and debris in Tennessee. They're still looking for about a dozen people missing after record-breaking rains unleashed flooding. 22 people were killed as of Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service (NWS) says up to 17 inches of rain fell in Humphreys County in less than 24-hours on Saturday.That county is west of Nashville.
The water was so high in places people were being rescued out of their homes on jet skis.
"It just came so fast, and I packed a bag as quick as I could for all of us, and next thing I know, the water's in my house and it's up to my chest. My house fell off the foundation while we were still in it," says says Casey Hipshire, a flood survivor. "So, we had to break the window in the kitchen and crawl out of it and get up on the roof as fast as we could. My yard filled up. I'm like, 'ok, it's going to go back down. It'll be ok,' and then all of a sudden it was a like a tidal wave that just came over the road and into my yard and swept my house away. It was so fast and so devastating."
Saturday’s flooding took out roads, cell towers and telephone lines in a rural area northwest of Nashville, leaving people uncertain about whether family and friends survived.
