At least three people are dead and one person remains missing after a catastrophic “once-in-a-millennium” storm tore through Chattanooga, Tennessee, overnight Tuesday, unleashing historic rainfall, deadly flash flooding, and widespread destruction. The violent storm shut down interstates, stranded drivers, and triggered dozens of swift-water rescues as floodwaters swallowed entire neighborhoods. Chattanooga Airport recorded 6.42 inches of rain on Tuesday alone, the second wettest day in the city’s history since records began in 1879, according to the National Weather Service.
Authorities confirmed that a mother, father, and child died Wednesday morning in East Ridge after a massive tree, loosened by the saturated ground, fell on their car. Another man was swept away by floodwaters, prompting an urgent search effort by swift-water rescue teams. First responders spotted him being carried downstream but were unable to reach him in time. Officials say finding him is a “top priority” as daylight returns.
Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp has declared a local state of emergency in response to the disaster. The Chattanooga Fire Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deployed swift-water rescue teams to save stranded residents and motorists. Six people were rescued late Tuesday night after a van was nearly swept into an overflowing creek at Davidson Road and Gunbarrel Road. No injuries were reported in that incident, but many residents were trapped in their homes overnight as floodwaters continued to rise.
Sophia Bush Calls Out Leaders and Infrastructure
Actress and activist Sophia Bush took to social media to voice her heartbreak and frustration, writing, “This is where the National Guard should be. Utterly heartbroken for Tennessee and utterly enraged at this failing of both infrastructure and leadership. Climate change is not partisan.” Her post quickly went viral, resonating with those demanding urgent action on climate resilience and disaster response.
With roads turned into rivers, homes destroyed, and power outages affecting large swaths of the city, Chattanooga now faces a massive recovery effort. Emergency crews remain on high alert as the risk of additional flooding lingers. For many, including Sophia Bush, the devastation is a stark reminder of the deadly intersection between extreme weather events and inadequate infrastructure, and a call for immediate change.
