River Well Above Flood Stage, Many Homes, Businesses Affected

Only One Way In, Out To Chattanooga Airport

Wednesday, May 7, 2003

Coolidge Park was converted into lake. Click to enlarge all our photos.
photo by John Wilson

TVA officials said the Tennessee River at downtown Chattanooga rose to four feet above flood stage Wednesday afternoon.

They said some 160 residential and commercial buildings were expected to be affected.

Forecasters said it appeared the heaviest storms were moving south of the city, but flooding could still increase from swollen tributaries and creeks.

The river has been shut down to barge traffic until further notice.

Coast Guard officials said the river is extremely dangerous, and all watercraft were warned to stay off the rapidly flowing water.

Spokesman James Howard said, "Also a number of wild animals have been disturbed from their habitats, and there is hazardous material floating around in the river."

Officials late Wednesday said Airport Road was inaccessible for people coming to or exiting the airport terminal. The only way to and from the airport is to take 153 to Shepherd Road, exit and come into the airport from the flyover.

To leave the airport terminal drivers will need to exit by driving back around in front of the terminal to get back to Shepherd Road to 153.

Officials said at 5:30 p.m., "At the current time reports show that the runways are functional, so flights are operating as normal, but passengers are encouraged to call their airline for delays or cancellations since there could be problems at other airports that would cause system delays."

The 4 Bridges Arts Festival set for Saturday and Sunday has been moved from Coolidge Park to Cricket Pavilion. The Helene DiStefano 5K Walk will begin as scheduled at 8:00 a.m. on the north end of the Walnut Street Bridge instead of in Coolidge Park. Festival hours are 10 a.m. Saturday morning until 6 p.m.,
and Sunday 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

At Coolidge Park the water was up almost to the pavilion and it was lapping near the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. Operators of the Chattanooga Star had to take a smaller craft to shore.

Water was across North Market Street near the Town and Country Restaurant.

The parking lot at the nearby Town and Country Center was a lake, and pickup trucks filled with sandbags were arriving to keep out the water. One owner said the water had not gotten into the buildings. He said it did during the 1973 flood, and J.B. Bond formerly had a watermark on the wall of his establishment.

There was no telephone, fax, email service in or out of the Theatre Centre by Coolidge Park, but officials said the shows would go on.

Water rose so much at the tower for WDOD Radio at Baylor School that the station was knocked off the air. Earl Freudenberg of WDOD said he would be on WDEF AM, 1370 on Thursday morning.

The North Chickamauga Creek Greenway parking area was underwater.

Olan Mills on Amnicola was shutting down its main operation late Wednesday afternoon and ferrying out many employees via boat.

Water was high across Heritage Lane and on parking and athletic facilities of GPS, so that Heritage Lane residents had no way to drive out.

All Hamilton County schools will be closed on Thursday because of hazardous road conditions, school officials announced. Only zoned childcare programs will be open on Thursday.

In addition to safety issues related to travel, officials said several county schools remain isolated by high water as a result of recent thunderstorms.

Kindergarten pre-registration is scheduled for Friday, May 9, at all elementary schools. Parents should contact their child’s zoned school for pre-registration times.

UTC classes were cancelled for Wednesday evening.

TVA officials said at 2 p.m.:

- Because of heavy rainfall, TVA remains in a major flood control operation and is managing the river system to minimize flood impacts.

- We expect the Tennessee River to be at four feet above flood stage at Chattanooga by early afternoon. We expect the impact to be in the city of Chattanooga, and flood damage will affect about 160 residential and commercial buildings.

- During the last 24 hours, there have been 5.5 – 8.5 inches of rain between Knoxville and Chattanooga, with high spots near Watts Bar of more than 11 inches.

- We are spilling at all main river dams and will be spilling water early this afternoon at Douglas, Fontana, Apalachia, Great Falls and Ocoee 1, 2 and 3. Water levels are significantly above normal summer pool levels in the tributaries and in Fort Loudoun, Watts Bar and Chickamauga reservoirs.

- The river system has been shut down to barge traffic until further notice.

- We have notified all state and local emergency management agencies of the flooding situation and continue to work closely with them as the situation develops.

High waters and winds closed many area schools Wednesday, including the Hamilton County Schools. Other schools closed include Rhea, Bradley, Catoosa, Dade and Walker County Schools. Chickamauga City Schools open at 10 a.m. Lutheran School, OLPH, St. Jude School, Notre Dame School, Collegedale Academy, Siskin School, Good Shepherd School, Brainerd Christian, Hickory Valley Christian, Senter School, Temple Academy, Silverdale Baptist Academy closed.

The Electric Power Board said as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, it had restored the majority of the outages from the storms early Wednesday morning with only 615 customers remaining without power.

Officials said, "Area flooding due to the heavy rains is creating much longer and difficult restoration efforts than normal. Crews are working in extremely wet conditions and EPB is experiencing some additional outages due to flooding.

"Crews have been working around the clock the last 36 hours and will continue to work through the night. EPB anticipates having most of the remaining outages repaired by mid-day tomorrow – weather permitting.

"Any customer that experiences a power outage should call EPB’s customer service line at 648-2706, and use the automated system to report their outage. This automated system is the quickest way for repair crew dispatchers to receive notice of the outage, and it allows EPB to keep its customer service telephone lines available for responding to emergency situations."

Rossville Boulevard and 23rd Street were among major streets underwater, and there was extensive flooding in Lookout Valley.

Chattanooga Police said Wednesday morning they were asking for the community's help in dealing with additional severe weather that hit this morning around the start of rush hour.

Police spokesman Ed Buice said already just about every barricade the city currently has
at its disposal has been placed, blocking off flooded streets, and more
locations where barricades are needed are being reported constantly.

Police are reminding motorists again to PLEASE use caution in driving into
flooded areas, he said. During the night police and fire crews have had to rescue a number of people out of places where they should not have driven.

He said, "PLEASE do not take chances by driving on roads covered with water. If in doubt, go around.

"The high winds in the forecast (approx 70 mph) are expected to uproot trees, which will cause power outages and driving problems. 911 operators are doing all they can to keep up...and CPD Communications Division is asking for the public's patience, both when calling and when waiting for officers to arrive at a given location.

Electric Power Board officials said the latest thunderstorms that passed through the area around 1:30 a.m. today produced high winds and heavy rains which worsened grounds already soaked from storms throughout the weekend.

Officials said, "These additional thunderstorms and water associated with the rains has lengthening restoration time. Earlier forecasts for outage restoration have been extended until late tomorrow afternoon. We currently have approximately 1,200 outages scattered throughout the area. Crews will be working throughout the morning and into the afternoon to restore power as quickly as possible. Due to the severity of the damage resulting from the storms, trees have to be cut and moved; downed wires must be repaired, and in many cases poles have to be replaced. This requires larger crews and longer restoration time. In total EPB will be working more than 300 employees around the clock, scouting trouble areas, cutting trees, repairing line damages, dispatching crews, handling customer calls or providing materials and support.

"If weather conditions hold, we anticipate power will be restored by late afternoon today. If another storm front moves into our area in the morning it may impact our restoration time and could result in additional outages. We are currently planning for this possibility and will be prepared to respond to the fullest if necessary.

"As the situation develops we will provide updated information."

County emergency services said these roads were closed by high water:

1. 1900 CRESTWOOD CLOSED DUE TO POWER LINES
2. BACK VALLEY ROAD
3. GANN ROAD @ S. DENT RD.
4. 4200 GANN STORE RD.
5. 912 FEDERAL ST. DUE TO TREE ACROSS THE ROAD
6. 3423 LUPTON DR. DUE TO WATER ACROSS THE ROAD
7. 1700 WHITE OAK ROAD
8. DAYTON BLVD. / HIGHWAY 27
9. STRINGERS RIDGE
10. 3500 BONNY OAKS DUE TO TREE ACROSS THE ROAD
11. OOLTEWAH/GEORGETOWN RD. @MAHAN GAP RD. DUE TO WATER ACROSS THE ROADWAY
12. 7637 MIDDLE VALLEY RD HAS DEEP WATER
13. 5400 HUNTER RD.
14. 7637 MIDDLE VALLEY RD.
15. 2703 DEBBIE DOWN RD.
16. REPORT OF SOME ROCK SLIDES NEAR 111
17. MIDDLE VALLEY /THRASHER
18. 4000 ROGERS RD DUE TO TREE ACROSS THE ROAD
19. 6000 HUNTER RD
20. E. BRAINERD RD. @ APISON PIKE
21. 4500 BONNY OAKS
22. 10100 APISON PIKE
23. 5200 JACKSON
24. 2800 CUMMINGS HIGHWAY
25. 914 FEDERAL ST.
26. 38 MIMOSA
27. GLEN RD. @ WINDING LANE
28. 3700 TAYLOR ST.
29. 2520 E. 21ST
30. 914 SYLVAN DR.
31. 3400 LIGHTFOOT MILL DUE TO BRIDGE UNDERWATER

The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Brainerd High School, 1020 North Moore Road, Chattanooga, at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. The shelter will provide a safe refuge for families who have been forced from their homes due to flooding, officials said.

Disaster officials stressed the need for victims to bring the following items with them to the shelter:

Identification
A change of clothing
Prescriptions and other needed medications
Blanket/Pillow
Baby items such as diapers, clothing, baby food, bottles, etc.
Child's favorite toy
Toiletry items

Pets will not be allowed in the emergency shelter and owners should make other arrangements for their pets lodging.

Officials said, "All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of the floods, tornadoes, and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800- HELP NOW or
1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)."

Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department said it will offer free tetanus shots to county residents at risk of infection as a result of contact with contaminated water due to heavy flooding in the area.

The free vaccinations will be offered beginning Thursday and will be available as long as flood conditions continue.

All health department clinics will offer the free tetanus shots.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, outbreaks of communicable diseases after floods are unusual. Increases in infectious diseases that were not present prior to the flood are usually not a problem after the flood, either.

“If you are working in flood waters and it has been 10 years or more since you received a tetanus/diphtheria vaccination, a booster shot is indicated,” said Donna Needham, program manager for communicable diseases. “If you have open wounds or if you receive an open wound while working in flood waters, you need a booster shot if it has been five years or longer since you received one.”

For further information, contact the health department at 209-8190.

Clinics

Main Health Center
921 E. Third Street, Chattanooga
(423) 209-8190
Hours:
Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Birchwood Health Center
5623 Highway 60, Birchwood
(423) 961-0446
Hours:
Monday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Wednesday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Ooltewah Health Center
5520 High Street, Ooltewah
(423) 238-4269
Hours:
Monday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday -Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Sequoyah Health Center
9527 W. Ridge Trail Road, Soddy-Daisy
(423) 842-3031
Hours:
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.