Family of 3 Killed by Falling Tree as Heavy Rain and Flash Floods Soak Parts of Tennessee

NEED TO KNOW

• A mother, father and child have died after a tree fell on their car amid heavy rain and flash flooding in Tennessee

• A state of emergency was declared in Hamilton County late on Tuesday, Aug. 12

• More heavy rain and flooding is expected on Wednesday, Aug. 13

A family of three died this week after a large tree fell on their car amid heavy rain and flash flooding in Tennessee, officials said.

Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management spokesperson Amy Maxwell said the incident occurred just after midnight on Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the Chattanooga suburb of East Ridge, according to the Associated Press. The deaths were also confirmed by the BBC.

A mother, father and child died when waterlogged soil caused the tree to fall on their vehicle, the AP reported. A fourth body was also found in a separate incident.

Further details about the victims were not immediately available.

First responders spent the night conducting rescue operations across the county, which was inundated with heavy rain beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 12, according to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management (HCOEM).

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp declared a state of emergency late on Tuesday in response to the flooding.

Wamp, and officials with HCOEM and the city of East Ridge were “planning to survey the flash flooding damage in East Ridge,” according to a post shared on Wednesday on X by HCOEM.

“THANK YOU to all our FIRST RESPONDERS who worked around the clock last night to rescue those who were trapped in the flash flooding waters,” the agency wrote on the social media platform. “We appreciate all you do for Hamilton County, TN.”

The post also included images of first responders conducting rescues in knee-high water.

Interstate 24 was shut down in both directions between Belvoir and Spring Creek Road on Tuesday evening “due to severe flash flooding,” according to another post shared on X by HCOEM.

A short time later, the agency warned drivers to “be weather aware” on the roads, cautioning that driving conditions may be hazardous “due to pooling of water on roadways.”

“Ditches and creeks may overflow and may lead to flash flooding,” officials added. “Don't drive thru flooded streets!”

The flood threat is not over, however.

The National Weather Service has said “localized heavy rainfall and possible flash flooding” may continue through Wednesday night across east Tennessee, southwest Virginia and southwest North Carolina, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Persons living near streams or areas prone to flooding should stay alert for the potential issues,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a post shared on X.

Read the original article on People