A Rainy Saturday In The Region, Some Residents Waterlogged

A Rainy Saturday In The Region, Some Residents Waterlog ... (Added: September 27, 2009)

The rain started early and didn't take a break until the sun set on the Tri-Cities region Saturday. Most counties waited through flash flood warnings, as their residents waded through farm field ... (more)

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A Rainy Saturday In The Region, Some Residents Waterlogged

Cars drive through large puddles of water collecting along University Parkway in Johnson City

By George Jackson
Published: September 27, 2009

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Washington Co., Tenn. -- The rain started early and didn't take a break until the sun set on the Tri-Cities region Saturday.

Most counties waited through flash flood warnings, as their residents waded through farm fields, front yards, and back roads.

Saturday's rain could make things tough for bean, pumpkin and tomato farmers. When pools of water collect in the fields crops rot.

"A lot of crops you can't pick wet, like beans -- they got to be dry," Daniel Smith said.

For produce farmers like Smith, dry days seem few and far between. He called this summer the wettest he's ever seen.

Washington County Emergency Dispatch Supervisor Greg Banks said, when flash floods are a concern, he depends on emergency workers in the field.

"They have some low-lying areas in different parts of the County, and the sheriff's department deputies are really good about watching out after that," Banks said.

Banks said call volumes jump when roads are wet, and residents get waterlogged.

Shop owners in downtown Johnson City dodged a bullet Saturday. Hard, steady rain was preferable to the downpour the city witnessed in August. Some shops had prepared for the worst, piling sandbags at their front doors.

The New Zion True Gospel Tabernacle was prepared too, but the pump in their basement failed, and flood waters soaked it -- again.

Some of the worst flooding in Washington County happened at Carmel Village Trailer Park off Huffine Road. Their "thru road" was impossible to drive through.

"My wife called me and told me that I was going to have to park up on Todd Drive and walk in," Carmel Village resident Charles Stanley said. "She said we had a big flood over here at the trailer park and I couldn't get in," he said.

Stanley said flood waters wiped out 16 trailers six years ago. He said Washington County considered stepping in, buying the land, and relocating his home -- but ultimately decided they couldn't afford to fund the project. He wants them to revisit the idea.

Click the play icon above for a video version of this report.