SAVANNAH, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – For hundreds ofhomeowners, the concerns are rising like the water rising on Tennessee River.
Many in the Memphis area have homes in and around Savannah,TN, about two hours east of the bluff city. The area is again at a risk ofmajor flooding with another week of heavy rainfall expected.
For those who live along the Tennessee River near Savannah Tennessee, it’s again déjà vu.
One year after major flooding caused still visible damage,the water is again rising. Some who live in this area again feel overlooked byelected leaders and overburdened with how water is distributed at a nearby dam.
“It is stressful. It is hard to function,” Melda Collinssaid.
From a higher perch, Collins watches as the Tennessee Riverslowly overtakes the street her summer home sits on.
“It will probably be five or six feet here,” Collinssaid.
By Sunday, forecasts showed the Tennessee River aroundSavannah could reach major flood stage for the second straight year.
“Last year was horrendous. People lost everything,” Collinssaid.
“When we get the rainfall amounts that we saw last week,and like we could see this week, that water has to go somewhere,” said JamesEverett with the Tennessee Valley Authority River Forecast Center.
Those who monitor river levels with the TVA said it’s a delicatebalance for when to release water from the Pickwick Dam into the TennesseeRiver during flood stages.
“If you can imagine kind of like a bathtub, as thebathtub gets fuller and fuller, eventually we’ll have to release some of thatwater downstream,” Everett said.
But others who live alongside or near the rising TennesseeRiver argue the area is being treated as a dumping ground yet again.
“I think with the dam system we have in Tennessee, weshould be able to control the water in this area better,” Collins said.
As the forecast shows the Tennessee River going frommoderate flood level to near major flood level in the days ahead, those wholive in the area said they’ll continue to monitor those maps and look out foreach other.