Tennessee River rising fast, significant flooding expected

March 9– The Tennessee River at Savannah is expected to rise more than 9 feet by early Saturday morning, causing moderate flooding in the river bottoms.

Hardin County Fire Chief Melvin Martin is urging owners of riverfront camping lots just west of the city to move their recreational vehicles by Friday, especially those across the Tennessee from Riverside Park.

Martin is also reminding motorists not to attempt to drive on underwater roads.

"Turn around–don’t drown," he said.

With flood stage at 370 feet, the river was at 372.4 feet at 2 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.

By 2 a.m. Saturday, if the river reaches 281.5 feet as projected, many houses on Emerald Lane are flooded. The intersection of RV Park and Old Ferry Roads is covered. Easternmost parts of the parking lot at Hagy’s Catfish Restaurant are flooding. Many river lots at the east end of Catfish Lane are flooding. The highest cropland along the river is flooded.

•At 380, much of Coffee Landing Road is covered by 10 feet of water. The slough between Catfish Lane and the riverbank is flooded cutting off many campsites near the east end of Catfish Lane. The intersection of Clover Drive and Emerald Lane is inundated. A low spot toward the south end of Vista River Lane is flooded. Houses north of the Crump boat ramp are flooding. Riverside Lane is flooding at the top of the boat ramp near River Heights Catfish Restaurant. The entrance to Connie Beth Lane hooking up with Clifton Road is flooded.

•At 379, Lemert Road is flooding. The low area on Clover Drive just west of intersection with Emerald Drive is flooded at Hooker’s Bend. First Pittsburg Drive is flooded at Bethel Branch.

•At 378, Coffee Landing Road is flooded. Most all lots at Big River Plantation Resort are flooded. The west end of Hamilton Rock Lane is covered.

•At 377, Wayne Jerrolds River Park boat launch parking lot is totally flooded.

•At 376, Wilkinson Ferry Drive is flooded near the river. Resort lots by the edge of the Tennessee River are beginning to flood along Wilkinson Ferry Drive across from Saltillo. Access to Bridgeview Estates from the northeast is cut off due to flooding just south of U.S. 64. Evacuation route from the camper sites on the south end of Riverside Lane in Crump is flooding. Water on Coffee Landing Road is just north of Lemert Road.

•At 375, the road going north from Catfish Lane to Coffee Landing Road is flooded near the U.S. 64 bridge.

•At 374, the intersection of Towboat Lane, Bargeview Lane, and Coffee Landing Road is flooded. Low spots near the west end of Connie Beth Lane are flooded.

•At 373, Coffee Landing Road is under 3 feet of water at some places, and evacuation is very difficult. Chelsea Road in Crump is flooded at Gattis Creek. Leaning Tree Road going to Riverview settlement is flooded at Hardin Slough. Low spots along Connie Beth Lane and Horse Creek are flooded. The Savannah Riverside Park boat parking area is beginning to flood. Low spots on Emerald Lane are flooding north of Clover Drive.

•At 372, the evacuation road from Big River Plantation Resort is flooded. Most all evacuation roads in bottom lands near Savannah are inundated.

•At 371, Federal Road is flooded at Lick Creek north of Hamburg. Parts of Lacefield Drive are covered by flood water.

•At 370, Coffee Landing Road is flooding just north of Beason Creek and toward Box Elder Drive. Campsites just north of the mouth of Beason Creek are flooding. Box Elder Drive is flooded. Access to sites along Bargeview Lane is cut off. Diamond Island Drive is flooded at Mud Creek just west of Gammill Slough Road. West end of Cross Pond road is flooding. Slough just east of Wilkinson Ferry Drive across the river from Saltillo is beginning to flood.