Greeneville/Greene County EMA Director Heather Sipe says gauging how the area will respond to flood risks moving forward has changed since the flooding in September. With the results of the September disaster, Sipe says the area landscape, especially in and along the Nolichucky River is forever changed, and the damages & destruction are still being repaired. That alone, makes this flood risk very concerning, as this is the first high level of rainfall (possibly 4-6 inches, total) that has been forecast since the September disaster.
Also, she adds, most River gauges were damaged or destroyed during the September Flood, leaving the local department unable to gauge the river at certain levels. Plus, the widening and reconstruction of the Nolichucky River due to the flooding destruction, leaves some uncertainty as to how another flooding event, regardless of whether it’s minor or major, will manifest in the Nolichucky. Sipe says her department will monitor levels and predicted levels with the National Weather Service online forecasting in the Emergency Operations Center and with on-site reports at local levels, as needed.
As it pertains to streams and creeks, because as seen in previous flooding events, those dynamics can pose a lot of issues, as well, to include road and low-lying bridge closures along many routes. There is also another aspect to this week-long event that will come in to play during the coming weekend. High winds along the mountains and adjacent foothills that could cause downed trees and possibly power outages due to heavily saturation.
Flooding Concerns:
Several rounds of moderate to possibly heavy rain are expected to move across our area through this upcoming weekend. The first wave is expected tonight through Thursday. Then, an additional wave Saturday into Sunday. Because of this, confidence continues to increase in the potential for flooding, some of which could be significant. Stream and river flooding, road closures, mud and rockslides are all possible. Additionally, the potential for high winds exists across the east Tennessee, southwest Virginia and North Carolina mountains this coming weekend. Due to the expected amount of rain through this time, these strong winds would increase the risk for downed trees and power outages due to saturated soils.
What Has Changed:
Confidence has increased for the risk of flooding due to a second wave of moderate to possibly heavy rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.
An increased risk for downed trees and power lines in the mountains if we receive the high winds that are currently forecast for Saturday and Sunday.
