Images show flooding and damage across Alabama - many roads remain closed
Flooding in Harvest, AL (Contributed photo/Penny Bright)
By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
For Alabama native Billy Graves, the 2015 Christmas Day storm will be remembered as the time when his black pickup truck ended up underneath an 18 wheeler in Holly Springs, Mississippi. For Elizabeth Hughes, the memories will include unsuccessfully trying to persuade a cat to leave its dry perch amid flood waters in Elba. For Tina Naden, it will be the picture of her shoreline swing – a spot where she normally likes to sit and look out over the waters of Smith Lake – completely submerged.
The storms of Dec. 25 are blamed for three deaths; a destructive EF-2 tornado in Midfield and an EF-0 tornado in Coaling; and what will likely be millions of dollars in property damage caused by heavy rain and flooding.
The storms touched about every part of Alabama, from Muscle Shoals and Cullman to Wetumpka and Elba. While some water levels have dropped, flood warnings remain in place throughout the state and residents of places like Selma and Geneva are keeping a close eye on rising waters.
The Tennessee Valley Authority has advised boaters and fishers to stay off the Tennessee River due to heavy flow.
The Alabama River is also above flood stageand isn't expected to drop below flood stage until after the new year.
Roads in Franklin, Limestone, Geneva, Barbour, Coffee and Dallas counties remain closed due to flooding. Bullock, Pike and Tuscaloosa counties all have roads closed due to water damage. Etowah County has closed portions of U.S. 431 because of a rock slide, while Cherokee County is detouring traffic off Highway 68 because flooding has washed out the guardrail and the road's shoulder.
In all, 32 roads throughout the state remain closed as of Tuesday morning.