Flash Flood Drowns Woman, Traps Dozens Inside Homes in Tennessee
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LEBANON, Tenn. — Flash floods sent a four-foot wall of water racing through the heart of Lebanon on Tuesday, drowning a woman and trapping dozens of families in their homes.
More than five inches of rain pushed Sinking Creek out of its banks, and the rampaging water swept away cars and moved fire trucks that were on rescue missions, officials said.
The flood swamped an estimated 250 homes and businesses in Lebanon, about 25 miles from Nashville, and forced the evacuation of 71 patients from Humana Hospital McFarland, officials said. Electrical shorts set fires in some businesses.
Officials said Sophie Payer drowned after ignoring police warnings and driving her car past a roadblock into the flood two blocks from Lebanon’s public square.
Payer jumped from her floating car and patrolman Douglas Clark said he grabbed for her, but caught only her plastic rain bonnet as the creek swept her away. Volunteers later found her body beneath a railroad trestle three blocks away.
National Guard troops joined firefighters, police and volunteers in rescuing stranded families and motorists throughout the morning. By midday, officials said everyone was believed to be safe.
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