Four years after flood waters swept through the small town of Waverly, killing 19 and leaving a path of destruction in their wake, flash floods and major river flood risks threaten the community once again.
More: Flooding in Tennessee destroys rural towns, leaving at least 21 dead, more than 20 missing
More: PHOTOS: Extreme flooding devastates Humphreys County
In all, 20 people were killed during severe storms and flash floods in Humphreys County when up to 17 inches of rain fell in one day, breaking the state record for daily rainfall and triggering deadly floods in August 2021.
According to the National Weather Service, it was the deadliest flood in Middle Tennessee since 1969.
More: Waverly flooding victims: Family and friends reflect on the loved ones lost
More: One year after Waverly flood, photos show long-lasting damage and signs of recovery
The victims included a father who died after saving his wife and daughter, 7-month-old twins ripped from their father’s arms by rushing water, and the popular foreman of Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills.
Hurricane Creek at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch remains an area of flood concern Saturday.
And the Duck River near Hurricane Mills has about a 20% chance of reaching moderate flood stage, according to NWS.
Surveillance video captured rising water levels at the ranch Saturday.
“We are receiving significant amounts of rainfall again today. Unfortunately Hurricane Creek is still out of its banks and rising again,” Loretta Lynn’s Ranch posted on Facebook Saturday.
The full-service campground, event center and tourist attraction closed at 3 p.m. saying, “safety of our employees and guests is our number one priority”.
It was also closed Thursday after the first round of heavy rains fell, leading to the potential for flooding and standing water on the main road through the property.
Flood risk: What to know
The National Weather Service in Nashville said heavy rains and flooding continue to be the main concerns through the weekend during a special weather briefing Saturday.
“We are already seeing significant flooding going on in Waverly right now, lots of different places have very high water,” National Weather Service Nashville Meteorologist-in-Charge Krissy Hurley said.
“Numerous river flood warnings are in effect … life-threatening flash flooding, life-threatening river flooding is expected.”
More: Tennessee floods: Video shows how fast the water rose in Waverly
Areas in the northwestern part of the region are expected to receive up to 8 inches of rain through Sunday.
Mounting road closures
Several roads are closed in Humphreys County as storms continued to roll through Saturday.
Highway 230 to Bucksnort is closed due to downed trees and power lines, the Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook Saturday.
Curtis Lane and the area of Hickman Road are reportedly closed due to the road washing out.
Brown Town Road and Walton Drive leading to Walmart Supercenter are closed and all other businesses in the area closed for the night due to flooding.
Officials urged the community to have an evacuation plan in place and not drive through standing water.
As severe weather and heavy rainfall continue to hit the region, officials urge residents to plan their escape.
Anyone with limited mobility is encouraged to call the dispatch center at 931-296-7792 to make an evacuation plan.
Katie Nixon can be reached at knixon@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rising waters, floods again threaten Waverly 4 years after 19 killed