Update, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: The total number of damaged residential properties is now at 225. That updated number now reflects the 48 separate residential units in the two apartment buildings.
Update, 3 p.m. Tuesday: The total number of damaged residential properties is now at 174. While most of those are houses, two of the county properties are apartment complexes with numerous tenants displaced, according to Montgomery County spokeswoman Michelle Hueffmeier. Of those 174 properties, 132 are in Clarksville and 52 are outside the city limits.
For commercial properties, 13 were damaged. There are 23 additional properties that may have damage.
Update, 7 p.m.: 165 homes have been damaged, according to the latest reports.
Previously:
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – In response to severe storms and heavy rains for the last five days that led to extensive flooding, Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts issued a Local State of Emergency on Monday. This allows the city and county agencies to take measures to protect citizens and expedite assistance, including mobilizing resources and coordinating responses.
A total of 127 residential properties and 14 commercial properties were damaged by the flood, with a third of those properties reporting major damage, according to a news release. Here’s an update and recap on the two big storms and their effect on our area.
Farmington flooding continues
Some of the worst flooding occurred in the Farmington neighborhood, just off Rossview Road northeast of Clarksville. As of about 1:30 p.m. today, floodwater was still spilling from the flooded Dunlop Lane basin over Dunlop Lane into the Farmington neighborhood, according to Montgomery County Highway Department spokesman Joshua Peltz.
The injection well in the Farmington basin opened Sunday night, but that has caused a large sinkhole to open. “Water levels dropped drastically in a short period, but the reduction has now slowed considerably,” Peltz said. “We’re out here monitoring this situation closely.”
Rainfall tops 10 inches
The first round of storms brought about 5.25 inches of rain to Clarksville, from Wednesday through Friday morning, as measured in the official National Weather Service gauge at Outlaw Field.
The second round, from Friday afternoon through Sunday night, brought almost 5 more inches of rain for a total 10.1 inches of rain in five days.
Flooding in neighborhoods
The first flooding evacuations came Saturday at The Reserve at Kirkwood, which is next to the Dunlop Lane flood basin. About two dozen residents and their pets were evacuated by Montgomery County Fire Service crews using boats. To help prevent further flooding, the Montgomery County Highway Department began pumping water out of the Dunlop Lane basin.
On Sunday, nearby Farmington had extreme flooding, and over two dozen homes had to be evacuated. CEMC had to cut power to much of the subdivision because of dangers from underground electrical lines.
Also Sunday, severe flooding happened once again Woodstock, where about 12 residents were evacuated by Clarksville Fire Rescue as of Sunday night, according to CFR Deputy Chief of Operation Jim Eley. Woodstock also had severe flooding during February’s storms.
There was also flooding in several neighborhoods in northwest Clarksville, including Elberta Drive, which has had drainage issues for the last few years.
Shelter, resources available
At about 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts urged anyone in flood-prone or low-lying areas to seek higher ground. A Red Cross shelter overnight shelter was opened, and it is now at the Crow Recreation Center, 211 Richview Road. On Sunday a daytime shelter was opened at YAIPAK, 1255 Paradise Hill Road. Anyone affected by the flood can go there to rest, eat and get donations of clothing and cleaning supplies. Residents will also be connected with recovery resources.
| MORE: How to get help, give help for those who lost homes
The United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region, in collaboration with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Long-Term Recovery group, has created a centralized location to request aid. Go to https://bit.ly/cmcrelief or https://www.cmcresponds.org/ and fill out the information. If you’re not sure about something, contact United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region at 931-647-4291 for support.
Those in need of financial assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to connect with a case worker.
Road closures
Several key roads had to be closed over the weekend, including Dunbar Cave Road, which is not uncommon during heavy rains. Two other key closures, among over two dozen reported, were Dunlop Lane and International Boulevard. Some roads began reopening on Monday. For a map and list, see Road Closures.
Because of the many road closures and evacuations, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools were closed Monday. CMCSS plans to reopen Tuesday.
“Please know that many families will continue to need support from CMCSS and the entire community in the days and weeks ahead, and we will strive to provide some normalcy for students impacted by flooding,” CMCSS said in a statement. “Families, please contact your child’s school if you have been impacted by flooding. Employees, please contact your direct supervisor. Whether there are short-term or long-term disruptions, schools will work with families to make accommodations.”
Rivers crest, begin falling
Before the storms began, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held back water at the dams in the Cumberland River Basin to prevent flooding farther downstream in Nashville and Clarksville. Once things seemed to settle down, the USACE began releasing water Sunday afternoon.
As predicted for several days, the Cumberland River crested in Clarksville at 50.54 feet – just above moderate flood stage – at 7 p.m. Sunday and began lowering. As of 6 a.m. Monday, it had dropped to minor flood stage, at 49.79 feet. Liberty Park, The Clarksville Marina and other low-lying areas and farmland along the river flooded, which happens every couple of years and is expected. The water stayed well below Riverside Drive.
The Red River crested at 39.3 feet Sunday evening. It has also dropped to minor flood stage, at 37.71 feet as of 6:30 a.m.
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