Flash flooding damages Milan businesses
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MILAN, Tenn. — Flash flooding caused damage at several Milan businesses over the weekend, including the hospital. Crews cleaned up debris in the parking lot at the Tractor Supply Co. on Monday. Strong storms dumped several inches of rainfall on the city Saturday. “Within three minutes we had about a foot, a foot and a half, of water inside the store,” Levi Little said. Little works at Liberty Tobacco & Beer, one of several Milan businesses damaged in flash floods. “You couldn’t even tell if we had a hardwood floor, concrete or a rug,” Little said. “It was just covered in mud — muddy water.” Gibson County Emergency Management Director Rickey Graves said water also flooded homes and cars, but no one was hurt. “We had one car that was flooded out and the person had to get on top of the car, wait for somebody to come get them,” he said. Fans dry out Milan General Hospital. The hospital estimates they had about two inches of water on the first floor and said they may have to replace walls. Despite the damage, the hospital said the doors are still open and they can treat patients. Businesses make due. Liberty Tobacco & Beer closed the inside of the store to customers but kept the drive thru open. “There’s a lot of mud and still a lot of stuff we have to do to clean up,” Little said. He estimates repairs will take weeks. Information is still coming in, but Graves estimates the county had between $80,000 and $90,000 worth of damage. He said that is not enough to qualify for federal assistance.
