SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. — Residents in Sumner County woke up to chaos Saturday morning as flash floods swept through neighborhoods, leaving homes damaged and streets underwater, and with another round of heavy rain and strong winds expected overnight, officials are warning that the worst may not be over.
White House resident and business owner Cody Telford spent his morning helping neighbors clean up after the flooding. But with sandbags running out, he had to get creative.
“We’re out of sand here locally, so I’m having to fill the bags with whatever we can find,” Telford said.
A video he captured inside a home on South Road in Cottontown shows the extent of the damage—three inches of water flooding the floors.
“Just trying to save people’s homes—the places they’ve worked so hard to build for their families,” he added.
City crews in White House worked quickly to drain standing water from backyards, but flooding already forced road closures throughout Sumner County. Officials warn that the next wave of storms could bring even greater threats.
Fox 17 has reported on flooding issues in White House for more than a year now, Telford believes unchecked construction and poor infrastructure decisions has left the city vulnerable and more prone to flooding.
The mayor of White House issued a work stop order for all construction a few weeks ago to storm water drainage concerns. Right now, the only construction activity allowed is repairs to storm water control measures, and the stabilization of dirt to prevent runoff issues.
Ken Weidner the Sumner County Emergency Management Director said saturated ground combined with high winds could lead to falling trees, posing a serious risk to homes and residents.
“One of my biggest fears tonight is with the ground already saturated and strong winds coming, trees could start falling onto homes,” Weidner said.
Weidner is urging residents to remain weather-aware, especially as the next round of storms is expected to hit overnight.
“It seems like we’re prone to getting severe weather or tornadoes while people are asleep,” Weidner said.
With dangerous conditions looming, officials emphasize the importance of having a plan in place and staying updated on the latest weather alerts.
For the latest updates on severe weather and safety tips, stay with FOX 17 News.
