Rounds of Heavy Rain Create Traffic Nightmares in Chattanooga

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF) – Kelli Lane, a Walker County, Alabama resident, says, "He came out of the trailer and the top of his head was split open and the side of his face and he said she’s trapped she’s trapped."

Lane describes the moments after a tree came crashing down on this mobile home, killing a 75-year-old woman inside and injuring her husband.

Here in the Tennessee Valley, it was a lot less chaotic.

Rounds of heavy rain created traffic nightmares at the I-24 off ramp at Cummings Highway, and on 20th Street in Chattanooga next to car dealerships.

Even the men in blue had a hard time figuring out which roads were passable.

A cruiser on 11th Street needed to be towed.

Luckily, no one was injured.

Tony Reavley, Director of Emergency Services in Hamilton County, adds, "Those low lying areas should start improving, but I still think we need to watch the … especially those that live in the area that know what’s flood prone, and pay attention to those things."

At least four roads were closed Tuesday afternoon due to high water.

County officials tell us they still have one eye on the weather and another eye on creeks.

Reavley adds, "South Chickamauga is rising a little bit, not expected to reach flood stage. Lookout Creek is just barely out of its banks.  Until the things start going down,and I don’t know when that will be, nature takes care of that. But we still need to monitor those and we still monitor those."

County leaders say the message is simple … be careful and use good judgement.

But as you can see from the police cruiser video we have, it may be easier said then done.

Area schools are not expected to be closed or delayed tomorrow.