NASHVILLE, T.N. (NCC News) – Severe storms and heavy rains flooded the Nashville area over the weekend, killing four people, damaging multiple buildings and making some roads impassible. Dozens of other people were rescued after the area received more than half a foot of rain in 48 hours.
Sunday, Mayor John Cooper said Nashville received exactly seven inches of rain over the course of two day, the second-highest two-day rainfall recorded in the city’s history. The floods damaged homes and at least one church in the area. The New Tribe Church cancelled in-person Palm Sunday services due to broken glass at the front entrance and knee-deep water.
In total, at least 130 people were rescued from their cars, apartments and homes. 40 dogs from a Nashville boarding kennel, Camp Bow Wow, were also moved to another location.
The floods also affected roads in the area, specifically Interstate 40. A portion of the highway was shut down on a temporary basis due to high water after flooding stranded a vehicle and its driver. The Tennessee Highway Patrol based in Nashville tweeted the driver was able to get out of their vehicle and make their way to safety. First responders also told drivers to avoid part of I-24 located in Nashville.
Many rivers and creeks in the area were at or near their highest level in a little more than a decade, according to the National Weather Service. Floods in Nashville in May 2010 caused 21 deaths and over $1.5 billion in damages.
The rains and flooding also affected NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway near the Tennessee-Virginia border. All events on Saturday and Sunday, including a Cup Series race run on dirt, were either cancelled or postponed to Monday afternoon.
Historically, the month of March has brought extreme weather to Tennessee. Last March in Middle Tennessee, tornadoes killed more than 20 people and damaged more than 140 buildings.
