Mayor Weston Wamp has placed Hamilton County under a local state of emergency due to widespread flash flooding.
In a statement, Mayor Wamp says…
“After consulting with the Hamilton County Director of Emergency Management, I have declared a Local State of Emergency as first responders across Hamilton County respond to flash flooding. We have been in communication with both TEMA and the Governor’s Office and will continue to assess damage overnight and into the morning. We ask the public to please exercise extreme caution.”
TDOT reported earlier this evening that they closed I-24 between US 27 and I-75 at mile markers 184 and 185 due to heaving flash flooding.
Now, TDOT says one lane is open on I-24 in each direction to clear trapped traffic stuck inside the closure.
Hamilton County Schools will be closed Wednesday.
Boyd Buchanan School, Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, Chattanooga Preparatory School, Montessori Elementary, OLPH, and St. Jude School say they will run on a 2 hour delay Wednesday.
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EARLIER:
Flash flooding has created hazardous road conditions across Hamilton County Tuesday evening, shutting down I-24 westbound near McBrien Road.
Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management tells us there are many rescues happening in that area.
Swift Water Rescue teams conducted rescues on Clemons Road and Swope Drive.
Chattanooga firefighters also conducted rescues across the city.
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A flash flood warning has been issued for Hamilton and Bradley County until 8:30 p.m.
The Chattanooga Fire Department tells us they have opened Brainerd Recreation Center for parties being evacuated due to flooding.
Roads across the Chattanooga area are closed due to flooding.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office shared a detailed list of road affected by flooding:
Chief Meteorologist David Glenn says we’ve had 6 inches of rainfall in a short amount of time.
