Family rescued as Hatchie River breaches banks

March 11, 2016

HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — Dozens of people are displaced from their homes as flood waters continue to rise across West Tennessee. Homes and cars completely submerged under water as the Hatchie River breached its banks.

“It’s scary, I’m speechless for words actually,” Jamie Lopez said. “We didn’t know the water would come up this fast.”

Residents said the water rose so high and so quick it washed away roads within a matter of minutes, leaving them stranded with no where else to turn.

“We don’t know if the river is going to take the house and tip it and float it down the river,” Lopez said. “This is our first experience being in anything like this.”

For the Lopez family, who where visiting from out of state, they stayed in the home until it was too late. Rescue boats eventually ventured out to pick them up.

“We begged and begged him to get away from all of this,” Lopez said. “If it wasn’t for us being here he would still be at the house.”

The family and a few of their dogs made the trip up what was once their road. The Red Cross put them all up until the water recedes and they can return home.

“We work really closely with animal controls and ASPCAs to try and get the animals in a safe place until they can get back into their homes,” Heather Carbajal with the American Red Cross said.

Although leaving the home, which had been overcome with water, was hard the family said they are happy to be on drier ground.

“He didn’t want to have to leave it but unfortunately you have to do what you have to do to stay safe,” Lopez said.

Rescue crews did have a bit of trouble getting to the family, Friday. One of the boats they were using broke down and also needed to be rescued.