TVA says no serious flooding along Tennessee River system

May 2– The Tennessee Valley Authority reports no serious flooding along the Tennessee River system as of this evening.

Some minor flooding is occurring in agricultural areas below Pickwick Reservoir in southern Tennessee.

At Savannah at 5 p.m., with flood stage at 370 feet, the Tennessee River was at 379 feet–or moderate flood stage–and starting to drop, according to the National Weather Service.

Kentucky Reservoir reportedly poses the most serious flood risk in the TVA system, cresting at 371.8 feet at 4 p.m. today and anticipated to reach up to 373 feet.

TVA said precautionary activities were under way to minimize the impact of possible flooding at Shawnee Fossil Plant west of Paducah on the Ohio River and Allen Fossil Plant on the Mississippi River.

Crews were prepared with sandbags and inflatable coffer dams if needed. As of today, the river was forecast to crest just below where it could affect the plant property.

TVA is supporting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ efforts to minimize cresting of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers by holding back water in Kentucky Reservoir.