DANGER: High Water in Rutherford County

Feb 22, 2019 at 11:00 am by bryan


(MURFREESBORO) The City of Murfreesboro's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located at the Murfreesboro Police Department Headquarters has been activated since 4:00 o'clock Thursday afternoon.

The purpose of the EOC activation is to more quickly and efficiently deploy resources for potential upcoming weather-related events and to enhance communications between city departments and other agency partners.

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With more rain coming in Friday into Sunday morning, agencies are monitoring weather conditions, road conditions and closures, and the potential for high and sustained wind activity and other possible weather-related incidents. The county is currently under a Flash Flood Watch that is not expected to expire until 12 midnight on Sunday.

"Our biggest concern about the 15-20 mph sustained winds expected Friday night is that with the ground as saturated as it is, there will likely be several trees down," said Fire Rescue Chief Mark Foulks.

Fire, Street, and Parks and Recreation employees are actively monitoring road conditions. According to Street Department Director Raymond Hillis, the department has several crews canvassing the city limits and clearing drains to get ahead of the increased rain levels. The department is also prepping equipment in advance of the possible high wind activity and plans to have crews on standby over the weekend. At this time, the only streets in the city limits marked with high water barrels are Sulphur Springs at Cross Drive and North Tennessee at Hazelwood.

Citizens are urged to stay aware of weather conditions and to continue reporting flooded streets and high water areas to Murfreesboro Street Department 615-893-4380 for streets inside the city limits. Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency is still the point of contact for county roads (615-898-7764). For more area-specific weather alerts, citizens are highly encouraged to sign up with Alert Rutherford, the county's notification system. For more information please visit www.rcecd911.org/alertrutherford.

The American Red Cross is prepared to open shelter locations in the event that any residents are evacuated due to flooding or other weather-related emergencies.

"Turn around don't drown," reminds Foulks, "and if you do find yourself in a high water emergency, dial 9-1-1 immediately."

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