Update: video added. scroll down.
THE SEVERE STORM SYSTEM in the Mid-West that spawned many tornadoes in Arkansas Friday continued its destruction as it hovered over western Tennessee Saturday. The storm dropped over 13 inches of rain onto Shelby County (Memphis area) and brought extensive flooding over the entire area.
Two levee breaches led to most of the town of Millington
becoming flooded with five feet of water.
(Mississippi Civil Air Patrol photo)
The Shelby County Fire Department called back additional firefighters to put another four engine companies in service due to the high volume of calls they were receiving. They had four times the average number of emergencies for the day and effected more than 80 145 rescues of flood-stranded citizens. One of the rescue operations was focused on the crew of Engine Co. 69 who were swept over while responding a flood rescue call.
Everybody was ok, as it turned out, but the fire engine will need a few days off.
The rain is continuing today, but most people have been evacuated by now.
The Associated Press has this update.
Hat tip: Shane W.
Update, Monday am:
WREG-TV Ch. 3 Memphis captured the video of the firefighters’ safe removal:
