Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Chattanooga's Worst Flooding in 30 Years
Aired May 09, 2003 - 06:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in, in Tennessee. That is where flooding in the Chattanooga area followed on the heels of this week's killer tornados in that state.
Our Mike Brooks is live in Chattanooga. He is covering the story that just will not let up.
Look at the water behind you -- Mike. Good morning.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
And as you can see here at this intersection in Chattanooga, cars submerged, the streets are blocked off. And last night it claimed its first victim. Just about two blocks from here, law enforcement and rescue officials found what they believe was a homeless man, who they believe drowned in about six to eight feet of water.
And as you can see, the waters are receding a little bit, but they're still very, very high.
Now, the flooding is localized all throughout Chattanooga. There have been over 1,600 people evacuated from their homes. Over 480 buildings and businesses have been damaged to the tune of $17 million total in damage, Daryn.
Now, yesterday, we spoke with Randy Battles from the Tennessee Valley Authority. He talked about how much water was flowing down the Tennessee River that feeds into all of the little creeks and is causing that to back up water throughout Chattanooga.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY BATTLES, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY: Our rough estimate is we'll discharge about 30 million gallons a day at this setting that we have here. On a normal day, we'll put about three million gallons through.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten times of what you usually do.
BATTLES: Approximately 10 times, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you're also generating electricity...
BATTLES: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... for the community.
BATTLES: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, the more water that comes over the spillway, the more electricity you're generating, too.
BATTLES: Well, not really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No?
BATTLES: Because that is not generating water that comes through the spillway sections. We're just moving that for the flood control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: Now, Daryn, this is the worst flooding here in Chattanooga in over 30 years. The water was six feet above flood stage. They hoped that it will recede by sometime Sunday, but that depends on how much more rain they get here in Chattanooga -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, let's find out about that. Mike Brooks is in Chattanooga.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired May 9, 2003 - 06:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's check in, in Tennessee. That is where flooding in the Chattanooga area followed on the heels of this week's killer tornados in that state.
Our Mike Brooks is live in Chattanooga. He is covering the story that just will not let up.
Look at the water behind you -- Mike. Good morning.
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
And as you can see here at this intersection in Chattanooga, cars submerged, the streets are blocked off. And last night it claimed its first victim. Just about two blocks from here, law enforcement and rescue officials found what they believe was a homeless man, who they believe drowned in about six to eight feet of water.
And as you can see, the waters are receding a little bit, but they're still very, very high.
Now, the flooding is localized all throughout Chattanooga. There have been over 1,600 people evacuated from their homes. Over 480 buildings and businesses have been damaged to the tune of $17 million total in damage, Daryn.
Now, yesterday, we spoke with Randy Battles from the Tennessee Valley Authority. He talked about how much water was flowing down the Tennessee River that feeds into all of the little creeks and is causing that to back up water throughout Chattanooga.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY BATTLES, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY: Our rough estimate is we'll discharge about 30 million gallons a day at this setting that we have here. On a normal day, we'll put about three million gallons through.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ten times of what you usually do.
BATTLES: Approximately 10 times, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you're also generating electricity...
BATTLES: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... for the community.
BATTLES: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, the more water that comes over the spillway, the more electricity you're generating, too.
BATTLES: Well, not really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No?
BATTLES: Because that is not generating water that comes through the spillway sections. We're just moving that for the flood control.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: Now, Daryn, this is the worst flooding here in Chattanooga in over 30 years. The water was six feet above flood stage. They hoped that it will recede by sometime Sunday, but that depends on how much more rain they get here in Chattanooga -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Well, let's find out about that. Mike Brooks is in Chattanooga.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
