Clarksville flooding leads to water rescues, road closures

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) – More than two dozen roads flooded and several people had to be rescued in Montgomery County as a result of Saturday’s severe storms.

According to the National Weather Service, Clarksville received up to 6.8 inches of rainfall from Feb. 14 to 15. 

Following Saturday’s flash flooding event, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the Red River at Port Royal was at 36.8 feet at 11:30 a.m. Sunday and is forecast to crest above major flood stage at 46.8 feet late Sunday night. This would be the third-highest flood crest on record, behind May 2010 and March 1975.

Station 17 of the Montgomery County Fire Service (MCFS) responded to two vehicles stuck in flooded roads from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

Firefighters were called to the intersection of Alfred Thun Road and Corporate Parkway around 6:30 p.m. Saturday to rescue two people trapped in a flooded vehicle.

Then, just after 6 a.m. on Sunday, MCFS made another water rescue on International Boulevard. Fire crews said they used a tower to retrieve a woman trapped in her car in flooded waters.

“If you come up to a flooded road, turn around and don’t drown,” MCFS said. “Remember: Do not drive in flooded waters. Do not drive around barriers.”

City officials are asking those who are not directly impacted by flood waters to stay away from currently flooded areas. They said the reason for their request is to keep everyone safe and also to provide unhindered access to flood zones for emergency first responders and those working to assist those people who are directly affected by flooding.

As of 11 a.m. Sunday, the following city streets have reopened after water in those areas receded:

• Fantasy Lane
• Jack Miller Boulevard
• Old Dunbar Cave Road
• Oak Street at D Street
• Pea Ridge Road at 101st Airborne Division Parkway

Below is a list of streets that are flooded or currently flooding, as recorded by the Clarksville Street Department. Crews have reportedly placed barricades and signage in these areas, and said they are identifying and clearing any street blockages where possible: 

• Alfred Thun Drive
• Ashbury Road
• Cedar Street and Providence Boulevard
• Crossland Avenue and Richardson Street
• Cumberland Drive and Church Street
• Cumberland Drive at Church Street
• Donna Drive at Woodale Drive
• Elberta Drive
• Freestone Drive
• Glenhurst Way
• Hallbrook Drive and Rebecca Lane
• Hayes Street and Pea Ridge Road
• Liberty Park Way
• Magnolia Drive
• Meadowbrook Lane
• Needmore Road
• North Woodstock Drive
• Old Russellville Pike and Idaho Springs Road
• Old Russellville Pike closed from Dunbar Cave Road to Cheshire Road
• Roselawn Drive at Spruce Drive
• Saratoga Drive
• Trenton Road and Hayes Street
• Tylertown Road and Oakland Road
• Tylertown Road and Roscommon Way

For the safety of staff and patrons in these weather conditions, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library closed on Sunday. The library said it will reopen on Tuesday (2/18) at 9 a.m., weather permitting, however, the book drop behind the library is open 24/7.

CDE Lightband, a municipal utility connected to 83,000 households and businesses in Clarksville, reported an outage around 12:45 p.m. Saturday that affected 1,200 customers. The company said all power was restored just after 8 p.m. 

At 7 a.m. on Sunday, CDE Lightband recorded an outage for 205 members who live around Tylertown Road near the Tennessee-Kentucky state line. As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday, crews are assessing the condition, but power has not yet been restored to the area.

If you’ve experienced loss or damage due to flooding in the Greater Clarksville region, help is available through the United Way of Greater Clarksville Region. Visit their website to request assistance.