By WKMS Staff
Nashville, TN –
UPDATED 6:00 AM CST
Kentucky Road Closures
UPDATED 4:00 PM CST
Insurance Claims Come In
Flooding has destroyed thousands of homes and cars in middle Tennessee and insurance claims are steadily coming in. State Farm Insurance Public Affairs representative Judy McConkey reports as of this morning the Tennessee office had received just over 3,500 claims. Only 617 were covered with flood insurance. Over 1,400 auto claims have been filed. If car owners have comprehensive insurance, flood damage is covered in the policy. McConkey says many people don't get flood insurance because they think it's too expensive and they think it won't happen to them. State Farm officials say floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States.
Power Plant Secure
A Tennessee Valley Authority power plant along the Cumberland River in Tennessee is still operating, despite flood danger. TVA Spokesperson Barbara Martocci says water pumps are running at the Cumberland City plant, and officials do not plan to shut down. Martocci says a segment of roads around the plant are closed, preventing some workers from reaching the site.
River Traffic Restricted
Officials from the U.S. Coast Guard report there is now a safety zone in effect on the Cumberland River. Guard officials have banned recreational vessels between mile marker 313 and mile marker zero. The Cost Guard has ordered all commercial craft using that waterway to travel at low speeds to prevent wakes that could damage dikes and levees.
Land Between the Lakes Sites
Many facilities at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area are closed because of the weekend's flooding. Most roads, trails, lake access and camping are not available until further notice. Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley are currently at 366 feet and are expected to rise to 370 feet because of flooding in the Cumberland River. A few facilities remain open including Golden Pond Planetarium, Elk and Bison Prairie and Woodlands Nature Station. Officials advise visitors to pay attention to road signs. Additional rainfall is expected this weekend and waters likely won't begin to recede until later next week.
A comprehensive Tennessee Rescue and Recovery Update from 3:00 PM is available on the TEMA website.
See the link below for earlier flood coverage.