Three killed, one missing as flash flooding prompts state of emergency in Chattanooga, Tennessee

A daily total of 160 mm (6.4 inches) of rain was recorded at Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) on August 12, making it the second-wettest day on record for the city since records began in 1879, according to the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) Morristown.

The intense rainfall was associated with slow-moving, moisture-laden thunderstorms that trained over the region for several hours. Localized rainfall rates exceeded 50 mm (2 inches) per hour, rapidly overwhelming urban drainage systems and low-lying areas.

Flash flooding began affecting the Chattanooga metropolitan area by late evening, leading Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp to declare a local state of emergency. Hamilton County Schools were closed on August 13 as a precaution.

A fatal incident occurred shortly after midnight on South Seminole Drive in East Ridge, when a large tree, destabilized by saturated soil, fell onto a moving vehicle, killing a mother, father, and child inside. In a separate incident, a man attempting to walk through floodwaters along East Brainerd Road remained missing as of Wednesday morning.

Emergency responders conducted multiple swift-water rescues throughout the county, including the evacuation of residents from three flooded homes on Maxwell Road in East Ridge, as confirmed by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Additional rescues were performed from stranded vehicles across the Chattanooga metropolitan area.

Floodwaters forced the closure of Interstate 24 near McBrien Road in East Ridge, where Tennessee Department of Transportation cameras captured officers assisting stranded motorists. The interstate reopened later after water levels receded.

Hydrological data from the NWS indicated that South Chickamauga Creek at Chickamauga Creek Road reached approximately 5.21 m (17.1 feet) at 09:15 local time (LT) on August 13. Minor flood stage for the gauge is 5.49 m (18 feet).

The NWS issued a Flood Watch for portions of Middle and East Tennessee through Wednesday night, warning of additional rainfall on saturated ground.

Officials advised the public to avoid driving or walking through floodwaters, emphasizing that even shallow moving water can be life-threatening.

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

This author does not have any more posts.