Rains Fall, Creeks Rise As Harvey Lashes Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TN — Creeks rose Thursday night across Middle Tennessee as the remnants of Hurricane Harvey lashed the Nashville area, dumping nearly nine inches of rain in some places, forcing road closures and causing widespread power outages.

By early Friday morning, though, waters were receding, barricades were being lifted and power, in most cases, had been restored.

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At the the height of the rains early Friday morning, the National Weather Service had issued flood advisories or warnings for nearly every stream and creek in Davidson County from Sevenmile to Richland to Mill and, particularly, Whites Creek north of downtown. At Bordeaux, Whites Creek crested at 22.5 feet, second only to the 25.8 foot crest during the 2010 flood. Residents along West Hamilton near the creek were encouraged to evacuate around 9 p.m., as waters rose past flood stage.

"Metro Nashville experienced flooding in several areas resulting in more than 50 people being evacuated and offered shelter. Nashville Fire Department personnel and OEM Emergency Support Volunteers responded to dozens of calls for help throughout the night. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries, fatalities or missing persons," NFD spokesman Joseph Pleasant said.

The Red Cross opened a shelter at First Baptist Church of Joelton located at 7140 Whites Creek Pike at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Approximately 40 people requested shelter due to flooding in their neighborhoods, according to Pleasant.

At one point overnight, 12,000 Nashville Electric Service customers were without power, which NES had down to roughly 1200 by 5 a.m. Friday.

A number of roads were closed either due to high water or downed trees blocking the roads. Metro Police and Public Works patrolled those roads before sunrise Friday, removing barricades and re-opening them to traffic if the water had receded.

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