Excessive rainfall causes flooding

Flint Creek has flooded onto Norris Mill Road just outside of Hartselle, causing the road to be closed Thursday afternoon. | Brent Maze

Locally heavy rainfall reaching 3.5 inches over a 24-hour period caused minor flooding in northeast Morgan County today and posed a danger of even more damage as the Tennessee River continues to rise at Whitesburg Bridge.

The river level stood at 18.91 inches, nearly four feet above flood stage, at 10:30 a.m. and was expected to crest at 21 feet later in the day. A moderate flood stage begins at 20 feet.

Morgan County’s worst flood in recent years occurred in 2003 when the river level reached 24.67 feet, prompting large-scale evacuations and follow-up assistance from Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Morgan Count District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie reported Thursday morning five or six roads in his district were closed Wednesday night because the were covered with water in low-lying areas. He also said Highway 36 at the Cotaco Creek crossing was very close to being flooded.

Bill Thomison of the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency said the National Weather Service and Tennessee Valley Authority are monitoring the river closely. Likewise, residents of the Lacey’s Spring community are keeping a close eye on condition in the event they are forced to evacuate their homes.

“Many of the families who live there have gone through this before,” Thomison said. “They make preparations for flooding and know when to leave for higher ground.”