Levee breach spurs evacuation of Rives in Obion County

Hundreds of residents in Rives, Tennessee, were being rescued and relocated on Sunday after a levee breach on the Obion River.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported the levee was being overtopped by the rising river at 11:19 am and said that rapid flooding occurred in and near Rives, just south of Union City.

Obion County Mayor Steve Carr declared a state of emergency and mandatory evacuations were ordered due to concern that the levee could break. He reported that patients were being taken to a local hospital with at least one in critical condition.

According to the Rives Fire Department, up to 200 residents were being rescued by multiple emergency agencies from all over west Tennessee. All electricity has been cut off in Rives out of safety concerns.

Carr said the Kenton community is also being watched for flooding in low-lying areas there.

Authorities asked that no one attempt to enter the Rives area. For those wishing to help, Obion County Emergency Management advises donating clothes, blankets, and other essentials, and to contact Union City area churches for instructions as to where to drop off the donations.

The Rives Fire Department says the first stop for evaluation after evacuation is Ridgemont Elementary School. Temporary shelter for a dry set of clothing and a meal is available at the Obion County Fairgrounds in Union City.

Shelter for those needing long-term accommodations will be available at the Woodland Mills Civic Center.

Assisting the Rives Fire Department with the rescues were the Obion County and Lake County Rescue Squads, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Madison County Health Department Strike Team, and Swift Water teams from Madison County Fire, Collierville Fire, Tipton County Fire, and Gibson County Fire.


PHOTOS: Jacob Fulbright and Rives Fire Department, courtesy