CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- Over a half foot of rain fell across portions of the Chattanooga metropolitan area, causing widespread flash flooding.
The hardest hit areas were Fort Oglethorpe, East Ridge, Brainerd, and East Brainerd.
One of the most dramatic scenes this evening was on I-24.
Several cars were stranded between Belvoir Avenue and Spring Creek Road on both directions of the interstate.
Portions of North Terrace were submerged as well causing backups along roads in that area.
I-24 between Highway 27 in downtown to the 24/75 split was shut down for several hours.
It reopened shortly before 10 Tuesday evening.
Meanwhile, Hamilton County rescue teams have been busy across Eastern Hamilton County.
Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management shared a video of a swift water rescue in East Ridge at Clemons Road and Swope Drive.
Meanwhile, Catoosa County officials say they had to rescue dozens of residents at two apartment complexes in Fort Oglethorpe.
These were The Crossings complex on Fant Drive and the Fountain Brooks complex on Cross Street.
Over 100 people combined in these two locations were evacuated with no injuries.
We have heard reports of rescues in other portions of Hamilton County.
Officials say it is too early to know just how many homes may have been impacted tonight.
Amy Maxwell of the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management said, “It looks like part of East Ridge have been affected, we just don’t know right now, it’s dark outside. We probably won’t be able to assess any kind of damage until we have daylight tomorrow, but our top priority is to make sure everybody is safe and rescued from whether they’re in their cars or their homes right now is the top priority.”
Maxwell says that no injuries have been reported in Hamilton County as of this evening.
We also saw flooding in the Brainerd area.
Brainerd Road had to be shut down just past Germantown Road this evening.
Water was piling up on Germantown and Moore Roads, where we witnessed numerous vehicles attempting to drive through unknown depths of water.
This, Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett, is an example of what can get you in trouble in a flash flood.
Sheriff Garrett said, “This is extremely widespread. It made very difficult for us to get here ourselves to try help other people, so no I’ve never seen it to this extent, this widespread in so many areas and it impacting travel the way that it is. That being said, please work with us, don’t make yourself a victim, stay home wherever you’re at, and don’t complicate things.”
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has declared a local state of emergency due to this flooding.
The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport record 6.42 inches of rain, the second wettest day in recorded history for the city of Chattanooga.
Hamilton County Schools are closed Wednesday, with several other schools on two hour delays.
