Oak Ridge Today

Main road through Oliver Springs closed due to flooding

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East Tri County Boulevard was closed near Mahoney Road and Midway Drive in Oliver Springs as floodwater from Poplar Creek flowed over the four-lane road Thursday morning, Feb. 6, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was last updated at 8:20 a.m. Feb. 7.

Note: The Oliver Springs Police Department reported at 7:12 p.m. Thursday that East Tri County Boulevard and Windrock Road had re-opened.

OLIVER SPRINGS—The main road through Oliver Springs was closed due to flooding Thursday morning.

Floodwaters were flowing over all four lanes of East Tri County Boulevard near Midway Drive before 11 a.m. Thursday, and the Oliver Springs Police Department was redirecting traffic down Mahoney Road.

Midway Drive, which veers off from Tri County Boulevard, was submerged under water from Poplar Creek.

The Oliver Springs Police Department reported at about 11 a.m. Thursday that the city was impassable, and Mahoney Road, which heads west out of the city, is now closed due to flooding.

“You will now have to come downtown and go out Dutch Valley or go around via Oak Ridge and Harriman,” the OSPD said. “If you do not know these areas well, please stay in until the flood levels are down and roads opened.”

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Updated: Severe thunderstorm, flash flood watches in effect

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Severe Weather Outlook July 14, 2015

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:43 p.m.

There is a higher risk of severe thunderstorms across the region today (Tuesday, July 14), forecasters said.

The storms could bring widespread damaging winds and very large hail, and isolated tornadoes are possible, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

Here are the latest updates (as of 3:43 p.m. Tuesday) from the National Weather Service:

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Haslam announces federal aid for 18 counties

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Governor Bill Haslam

Bill Haslam

Counties receive disaster recovery funds for June flooding

NASHVILLE—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday announced President Obama has declared 18 counties as federal disaster areas as a result of severe weather on June 5-10. State and local governments and electrical utilities spent nearly $10 million in response to and recovery from the wind damage and flash-flooding impacts.

“This federal aid will help our communities in rebuilding and recovery,” Haslam said. “State and local teams worked quickly to survey damage in more than 35 counties to determine the impact of these storms, and we are grateful for this assistance.”

The counties that will have access to federal aid include Anderson, Bledsoe, Carroll, Decatur, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Lawrence, Lewis, Madison, Marion, Maury, McNairy, Moore, Perry, Roane, Sequatchie, and Tipton. They will have access to federal assistance that provides reimbursement for 75 percent of eligible costs. A presidential disaster declaration also includes FEMA’s hazard mitigation grant program on a statewide basis.

Three fatalities were attributed to the severe weather and flooding. Two deaths occurred in Lawrence County and another in Hickman County. [Read more…]

Forecast: Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain; tornado, flood watches issued

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NWS Severe Thunderstorms, Rain, Wind

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown.

 

Severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding are possible in the region starting Monday evening and continuing through Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service in Morristown.

Isolated tornadoes are possible, mainly across the Cumberland Plateau and southern half of the Tennessee Valley, the Weather Service said. A tornado watch remains in effect until 8 p.m. Monday for southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee. The watch includes Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties, among others.

The flood watch is in effect from 8 p.m. today until 8 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service said its main concerns are the isolated tornadoes, widespread damaging winds that could cause power outages due to fallen trees and power lines, and heavy rainfall producing flash flooding. Large hail is also possible.

The forecast near Oak Ridge calls for a 60 percent chance of heavy rain this afternoon, with a 100 percent chance of severe thunderstorms tonight. [Read more…]