Posted on September 7, 2017.
Star Staff Reports
Steay rain last Thursday led to flooded areas in Lyons Park near the White Oak neighborhood in Millington.
The record-setting statistics of Hurricane Harvey were a regular part of the news cycle last week. The devastation from the tropical storm hit the Houston, Texas area causing more than 50 deaths, billions of dollars of damage and never-before-seen flood levels. It was last Thursday the remnants of Harvey finally started to hit the Mid-South with several inches of rain, strong winds and even tornadoes. Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas coast Aug. 25 as the first Category 4 major hurricane to hit the United States in 12 years. “The Mid-South will likely be affected by this powerful storm,” said Dale Lane, Director Shelby County Office of Preparedness last week. “The National Weather Service in Memphis predicts a significant heavy rainfall event is possible later this week as the remnants of Harvey passes. It is never too early to prepare. Stay weather-aware in the coming days and review these flood safety tips with your family.” On the last day of August the rain, wind and storms finally arrived to the Memphis area. Throughout the day in Millington the steady downpour lead to slick streets and windy conditions. Sirens could be heard throughout parts of North Mississippi and Shelby County. Tornado Watches transformed into Tornado Warnings earlier in the day. By 4:42 p.m., the Doppler Radar estimated 3 to 5 inches of rain occurred over 3 hours. Showers and thunderstorms produced several more inches of rain throughout the rest of the night. Locations that will experience flooding include Southaven, Olive Branch, West Memphis, Horn Lake, Hernando, Marion, T O Fuller State Park, Walls, Edmondson, Anthonyville, Jennette, Lake Cormorant, Southwest Memphis, Simsboro, Whitehaven, Pinckney, Lynchburg, Southeast Memphis, Crittenden and Browns. By far the area hardest hit by Harvey was the greater Houston area. As rescue crews continued their efforts, nearly 40 deaths were reported by the end of August. The fourth-largest city in America, Harris County, endured more than 50 inches of rain leading to the heavy floods. Ø National Flood Insurance Program: Visit www.floodsmart.gov to find out your flood risks and information on purchasing flood insurance.
Resources: www.fema.gov and www.nhc.noaa.gov
