The Rain Damage Report

The rainstorm that hit the area last Friday and continued throughout the weekend affected several events and caused some minor damage in Blount County. There was a minor mudslide on the Jones Bend Road near the Peninsula Hospital during the weekend. “Other than that we were fortunate,” stated Bill Dunlap, Blount County Road Superintendent. “The airport registered about 2 inches of rain and the rest of the area got as much as 6 inches, so we were very fortunate.” Area streets were drenched by the downpour, which was often heavy, and runoff from culverts and drainage areas made its way onto roads, presenting an occasional driving hazard in addition to the standing water. Some streets and parking lots were covered with the water, which due to the intensity of the rain the ground was unable to quickly absorb. The rain was also a factor in a traffic accident with a fatality that occurred on Ebeneezer in Knoxville. Traffic on the five-lane road is very fast since it was expanded to five lanes, and sheriff department deputies said that the rain, as well as the speed of the vehicle involved, contributed to the accident. Drivers are cautioned to never drive into deep water, and if your car stalls in water, leave the vehicle immediately and move to higher ground. Drivers should also remember to reduce their speed from the posted maximum limit when rains are heavy, as that speed reflects the safe maximum under ideal conditions. Jonas Smelcer, the Sevier County Road Superintendent commented “We fared very well during this past storm. He went on to say, “We only had a few roads with high water for a short period. But we had a few trees, about 10 – trees with beetles in them – next thing the trees are in the road.” Smelcer said he is unaware of any significant damage in either the Sevier or South Knox Counties. It’s hard to believe that even though we got drenched last weekend, the numbers still reflect a drought that started in 1998 according to Jerry McDuffie, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Morristown.