Tragedy Strikes Tennessee: Family Killed as Tree Falls on Car Amid Severe Flooding

A family of three, including a child, tragically died when a large tree fell on their vehicle in East Ridge, Tennessee, early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred amidst widespread heavy rain and severe flooding that has devastated parts of Hamilton County.

Authorities confirmed that saturated ground led to the tree’s collapse, claiming the lives of a mother, father, and their child just after midnight. Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Amy Maxwell reported the fatalities and noted that officials were scheduled to assess the full extent of the damage across the county later Wednesday.

The extreme weather has prompted numerous rescues and a local state of emergency declared by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp on Tuesday night. Residents have been urged to exercise extreme caution as floodwaters inundated roads and homes. A search was also underway Wednesday for a man who disappeared after walking through a flooded road in Chattanooga on Tuesday evening.

Chattanooga experienced its second-wettest day on record Tuesday, with over 6.4 inches of rain recorded at the airport. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of middle Tennessee through Wednesday night, warning of continued flash flooding and potential for ‘training’ storms over already saturated areas.

Swiftwater rescue teams have been active, saving residents trapped in vehicles and homes. Chattanooga Fire Department crews rescued individuals from submerged vehicles and residences, while sections of Interstate 24 were temporarily closed due to high water. Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett described the flooding as unprecedented in its widespread impact, making emergency response efforts challenging.

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