Tennessee Flooding Kills Family as Tree Crushes Car/ Newswlooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A mother, father, and child were killed when a waterlogged tree toppled onto their car in East Ridge, Tennessee, amid heavy rain and widespread flooding. Authorities are also searching for a man missing after walking into floodwaters in Chattanooga. With more storms expected, local officials have declared a state of emergency and urged residents to take extreme caution.
Key Takeaways
- Casualties: Mother, father, and child killed in East Ridge after tree collapse.
- Missing Person: Search underway for man swept away after entering floodwaters.
- Damage Scope: Hamilton County officials assessing widespread storm impact.
- Rescues: Swiftwater teams saved residents trapped in cars and homes.
- Interstate Closures: I-24 temporarily shut down due to flooding.
- Local Emergency: Declared by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp.
- Weather Threat: Flood watch in place for Middle Tennessee through Wednesday night.
- Unusual Flood Pattern: Sheriff reports flooding is far more widespread than usual.
Full Story
Deadly Storm Strikes Tennessee Overnight
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A powerful storm system packing torrential rain and flash flooding has left three people dead and at least one missing in southeast Tennessee. The fatalities occurred just after midnight Wednesday when a large, rain-soaked tree crashed down on a passing car in East Ridge, a suburb of Chattanooga.
Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Amy Maxwell confirmed the victims were a mother, father, and child.
“The saturated ground and relentless rainfall combined to uproot a massive tree, and tragically, the car was directly in its path,” Maxwell said.
Ongoing Search for Missing Man
In addition to the fatalities, crews are searching for a man last seen walking across a flooded roadway in Chattanooga on Tuesday night. Officials say he has not been spotted since and may have been swept away by swift currents.
“The search is active, and we’re using all available resources to find him,” Maxwell added.
Damage Assessment Underway
The full extent of the storm’s damage remains unclear. Hamilton County officials began touring the hardest-hit neighborhoods Wednesday morning to survey property loss, infrastructure damage, and road conditions.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp issued a local state of emergency Tuesday night, granting emergency powers to mobilize rescue teams and request state-level assistance if needed.
Multiple Rescues Amid Rising Water
The intense flooding triggered numerous water rescues across the Chattanooga metro area. Fire department crews pulled stranded motorists from submerged vehicles and assisted residents trapped in their homes.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, swiftwater rescue teams evacuated residents from three homes in East Ridge that were surrounded by rapidly rising water. Sheriff Austin Garrett described the flooding as “the most extensive” he had ever seen in the area.
“This is extremely widespread,” Garrett told The Chattanooga Times Free Press. “It made it difficult for us to even get here ourselves to try to help other people. I’ve never seen flooding this widespread in so many areas and impacting travel the way it is.”
Travel and Infrastructure Impact
Parts of Interstate 24, a major east-west artery through Tennessee, were shut down due to floodwaters on Tuesday but reopened later once the water receded. Authorities warned that other roads could become impassable with little notice if additional storms strike.
Weather Outlook: More Rain on the Way
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of Middle Tennessee through Wednesday night, warning of:
- Scattered flash flooding
- Tropical-like downpours
- Training thunderstorms (multiple storms moving over the same area)
- High risk for saturated areas to flood again quickly
Forecasters caution that even areas not currently under water could see flash flooding within minutes if heavy rain develops overhead.
Why This Flood Was Different
Typically, flooding in the Chattanooga area is concentrated in one or two vulnerable neighborhoods. This storm, however, inundated multiple communities at once, stretching emergency services thin. The combination of days of rain, unstable soils, and clogged drainage systems created what Garrett called “a nightmare scenario” for first responders.
Community Response and Safety Advice
Emergency officials are urging residents to:
- Avoid driving into flooded roads (“Turn Around, Don’t Drown”).
- Stay indoors during severe downpours.
- Keep mobile devices charged in case of power outages.
- Monitor weather alerts via NOAA Weather Radio or official apps.
Local churches and community centers have opened shelters for residents displaced by the flooding. Volunteer organizations, including the Red Cross, are on standby to provide meals, blankets, and cleanup supplies.
Looking Ahead
Meteorologists warn that even after this storm system passes, Tennessee could face additional flooding threats in the coming weeks due to an already saturated ground and a predicted pattern of heavy rainfall events. Officials stress the importance of long-term flood mitigation measures, including improved drainage infrastructure and expanded floodplain mapping.
For now, recovery efforts are focused on clearing debris, reopening critical roadways, and supporting those who have lost homes, vehicles, or loved ones.
“This community has been through tough times before,” Mayor Wamp said. “But the scale of this disaster is a reminder of how quickly severe weather can turn deadly. Our priority is to protect lives and help people recover.”
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