Flooding Information
Flash Floods
A flash flood is a rapid rise of water along a stream or low-lying urban area. Flash flood damage and
most fatalities tend to occur in areas immediately adjacent to a stream or river. Additionally, heavy rain falling
on steep terrain can weaken soil and cause mud slides, damaging homes, roads, and property.
Flash floods can be produced when slow moving or multiple thunderstorms occur over the same area. When
storms move faster, flash flooding is less likely since the rain is distributed over a broader area.
Turn Around, Don't Drown
Almost half of all flash flood fatalities occur in
vehicles. A common misbelief is that a 3,000 pound or more vehicle will remain in contact with the road,
that it is too heavy to float. Contrary to popular belief, many people don’t realize that only 18 to
24 inches of water on a bridge or highway can float most vehicles. Vehicle can easily float because of buoyancy,
an aircraft carrier weighing approx. 97,000 tons floats. If the water is moving rapidly, the car, truck, or
SUV can easily be swept off a bridge or roadway.
The solution is simple. Turn around, don't drown. Stay out of flooded roadways, the water may be much deeper
than it appears as the roadway may be washed out. Also, respect the "road closed" barrier that may be
posted to warn you of the danger.
Tennessee River Flooding Information
Recently the National Weather Service and the Decatur County Emergency Management Agency conducted flood surveys along
the Tennessee River. As a result of these surveys, the National Weather Service revised its flood stages for the
Tennessee River. The following is information on areas that will flood when the river reaches specific depths. |
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Tennessee River Flooding Information for Decatur County |
| 361.0 |
• Water inundates the picnic area near the boat launch at the north end of Woodlawn Shores.
• Low lying agricultural land along the river also begins to be inundated. |
| 362.0 |
National Weather Service (NWS) Action Stage - Flood Advisory issued. |
| 362.0 |
• The boat launch parking areas at Beech Bend Park and Cherokee Heights become inundated.
• At Willow Oaks Landing Campground water begins to inundate picnic areas and campsites near the river.
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| 362.5 |
Water begins to inundate the boat launch area on Woodlawn Shores road in Cherokee Heights. |
| 363.0 |
Water begins to inundate access roads in the Lost Creek Marina. Access to the boat docks may be limited. |
| 363.5 |
• Water inundates the boat launch area at the north end of Woodlawn Shores Road in Cherokee Heights.
• Water inundates the low lying areas of the boat launch at the end of Brodies Landing Road. |
| 364.0 |
• Water begins to inundate the access roads in the Willow Oaks Landing Campground.
• Water begins to inundate the Busseltown boat launch area at the end of Mouse Tail Road.
• Water begins to inundate low lying areas at the River Breeze Estates. |
| 365.0 |
NWS Flood Stage - Flood Warning issued. |
| 365.5 |
• In Cherokee Heights the intersection of Bill Perry Road and Woodland Shores Road floods
near the boat launch area.
• Water begins to inundate the Fisherdale Landing boat launch area.
• Water begins to inundate the Busseltown boat launch area at the end of Mouse Tail Road.
• Water begins to inundate the Brodies Landing boat launch area. |
| 366.0 |
• In the Willow Oaks Landing Campground, flooding of campsites near the river begins and access roads
may be impassable.
• Access roads to Pevahouse Landing and in the Fisherdale Landing area also begin to flood. |
| 366.5 |
• The Brodies Landing boat launch area and low spots south of Cub Creek flood.
• In the Perryville Marina water reaches the last campsite on the south end of the campground, and the
picnic area on the north end of the campground. Evacuations of the Perryville Marina and campground may be needed.
• Water also inundates the northeast end of the campground at Beech Bend Park, and low spots along
Fisherdale Landing Road including the boat launch and parking area at the marina. |
| 367.0 |
• Water begins to flood the parking lot of the Cherokee Heights marina, and the intersection of Divider
Drive and Bill Perry Drive at the south end of Woodlawn Shores.
• Water also begins to flood the access road to Yarbros Landing.
• The Brodies Landing boat launch area is completely flooded at this level and water reaches the intersection
of Brodies Landing Road and Sears Lane.
• Flooding is occuring at the boat ramp area of the Perryville access area landing. |
|
368.0 |
NWS Moderate Flood Stage. |
| 368.0 |
• In the Willow Oaks Landing Campground, most of the campsites in the area are flooded.
• Water also completely floods the jetty at the River Breeze Estates. |
| 368.5 |
The TVA farm field just south of Cub Creek is almost entirely flooded at this level as water reaches the top
of the bank. |
| 369.0 |
Water begins to flood the boat parking lot of the Perryville access area landing. |
| 370.0 |
Water inundates the first floor the southern most house in the Pevahouse landing area. |
| 371.0 |
• Water begins to flood the Cherokee Heights marina area, including the boat launch parking lot
and the access road leading to the marina.
• Water begins to flood the Ponderosa marina area including access on Hog Creek Road. |
| 372.0 |
Access to the Lost Creek boat dock and landing is restricted. |
| 373.5 |
Water completely inundates all of the shoreline campsites in the Perryville marina and campground. |
| 374.5 |
Inundation of house trailer lots at Fisherdale Landing occurs. |
| 375.0 |
NWS Major Flood Stage. |
| 375.5 |
Water reaches the restaurant building at the Fisherdale Landing boat dock and marina. |
| 380.5 |
Water reaches structures in the Lost Creek boat dock and landing area. |
| 383.0 |
Water begins to flood homes in the south end of Woodlawn Shores Road and Bill Perry Road,
and in the Lick Creek area. |
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Tennessee River at Clifton Flooding Information |
| 364.0 |
National Weather Service (NWS) Action Stage - Flood Advisory issued. |
| 364.5 |
In Decatur County - Water inundates portions of Russ Farm Road and access may be limited to
houses in the Russ Farm area. |
| 365.0 |
In Decatur County - Low lying areas of the Riverstone Marina begin to flood. |
| 370.0 |
In Decatur County - The boat launch and parking lot areas of Riverstone Marina are flooded. |
| 373.0 |
In Decatur County - Water inundates the heli-pad in the Rivers Edge Landing subdivision. |
| 374.0 |
In Wayne County - Clifton Park at TVA slough begins to flood. |
| 375.0 |
NWS Flood Stage - Flood Warning issued. |
| 375.0 |
In Decatur County - Water inundates the boat launch and access road at the Forest
Crossing subdivision area at the old ferry crossing. Access may be limited to the Forest Crossing subdivision. |
| 376.0 |
• In Decatur County - Water reaches the ground floor of homes in the Russ Farm area.
• In the Martins Landing subdivision water inundates the boat launch and landing area and may
inundate the ground floor of homes in the area. Access may be limited due to flooded roads. |
| 378.0 |
In Wayne County - Portions of Route 128 north of Clifton begin to flood. |
| 380.0 |
NWS Moderate Flood Stage. |
| 380.0 |
In Wayne County - Route 128 north of Clifton is flooded and may be impassable. |
| 381.0 |
In Decatur County - Water reaches the ground floor of the lowest home in the Rivers Edge Landing subdivision. |
| 381.5 |
In Decatur County - Water reaches the ground floor of house #16 in the Riverstone subdivision. |
| 384.0 |
In Decatur County - Water reaches the ground floor of house #23 in the Riverstone subdivision. |
| 385.0 |
NWS Major Flood Stage. |
| 386.0 |
In Decatur County - Water reaches the second floor of homes in the Russ Farm and Martins Landing subdivisions. |
| 392.5 |
In Decatur County - Water reaches the second floor of house #16 in the Riverstone subdivision. |
| 395.0 |
In Decatur County - Water reaches the second floor of house #23 in the Riverstone subdivision. |
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Click here for current Tennessee River stages.
Flood information courtesy of the National Weather Service and Decatur County EMA.
