Flash flood damage estimated at $1.2 million in east Hardin County

Aug. 19– The Hardin County Emergency Management Agency says Wednesday's heavy rains caused an estimated $1.2 million in damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.

Flash flooding occurred in parts of Savannah and east Hardin County.

A total of five homes and one business were damaged, accounting for $175,000 in losses, plus $1 million for roads, bridges, culverts and ditch lines, the local EMA determined.

According to the Hardin County Fire Department, several houses were flooded and at least two stranded motorists had to be rescued, but no injuries were reported.

U.S. 64 about six miles east of Savannah near the fish ponds and farther east around Flat Gap Road was closed for more than an hour when water got across the highway.

"Turn around, don’t drown," said county fire chief Melvin Martin.

Around 10 inches fell in the vicinity of the Hardin-Wayne county line and about 6 in Savannah, he said.

In the city, on Florence Road at Savannah Glass, the water was so deep one car was submerged nearly to the lower level of its windows.

Outside the city on Lonesome Pine Road portions of pavement were ripped free by the current, and in the Olive Hill area, "the water got higher there than it did in the May 2 flood," Martin said.

That flood resulted in a federal disaster declaration for Hardin County and a sizeable portion west and middle Tennessee.

However, Martin said it appears unlikely the amount of damage from this most recent flooding event will be sufficient to trigger any such aid.