By Angela Hatton
Nashville, TN – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released its final evaluation of the May flooding in northwestern Tennessee. Division Director Major General John Peabody says the record downpour hit dams not equipped to handle heavy rainfall.
"They do have very minor water storage capacity, but with any major rain event, whether it's this or any other, those capacities unless there's something upstream holding water back, can be quickly overwhelmed."
Peabody says workers lowered lake levels ahead of the storm. But the severity of rainfall was unprecedented. Peabody says any projects to improve dam capacity will rely on the availability of federal appropriations. Corps officials are working to improve communications, especially with the National Weather Service.