(CNN) Flooding in parts of Tennessee has left one person dead and sparked a state of emergency this weekend.

One person died in Knoxville after driving his car into water on a flooded road early Sunday morning, according to Knox County Sheriff's Office.

Knox County was under flash flood warning on Saturday afternoon and residents were warned that "this is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now," according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Nashville broke a rainfall record on Saturday making this the city's wettest February in over 100 years.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) declared a state of emergency Saturday due to rising flood waters and "the potential for more severe weather," according to the declaration.

Read More </s> A State of Emergency in Place in Tennessee has been declared because of widespread flooding issues and severe weather throughout the state, according to a news release.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is asking Tennesseans to follow the instructions of emergency officials and stay on alert due to rising flood waters and the potential for more severe weather Saturday afternoon.

“Our departments and agencies are monitoring the ongoing weather developments in our state and they are coordinating to be fully prepared,” Lee said in a news release.

Lee was attending meeting in Washington, CD, this weekend connected with the National Governor’s Association. He is cutting his trip short and coming home Saturday afternoon to better monitor the situation.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at McGavock High School due to the flooding.

TEMA is working with state and local officials through the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville to monitor the weather situation, stay in contact with key information sources such as the National Weather Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and address any local need requests.

Besides TEMA staff, SEOC personnel include Emergency Service Coordinators from the Tennessee departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Insurance, Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Health, Human Services, Military, Safety, and Transportation, along with representatives from the American Red Cross and State Fire Marshall’s Office.

“Everyone should pay close attention to weather forecasts today and have multiple ways to receive weather watches and warnings,” said TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan in a news release. “Those who may have experienced any storm or flooding damage already should contact their county emergency management agencies to report issues, contact their insurance agencies, and keep track of any repairs they make.”

Other flooding response preparations are being made, including:
• The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is coordinating among state, local, and industry resources to identify immediate emergency agricultural and livestock needs and will work with the USDA to assess farm damages in the coming weeks.
• The Tennessee National Guard has readied aviation and boat resources for response and has sandbagging equipment and troops and airmen available to help if needed.
• The Fire Marshall’s Office and the Tennessee Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid System are coordinating potential mutual aid requests and readying swift-water rescue teams for potential deployment.
• TDEC is communicating with water and wastewater systems to ensure infrastructure is not impacted or damaged.
• USACE and the Tennessee Valley Authority are communicating the status of their dam projects and storage and flows along the rivers and tributaries to TEMA, and USACE Nashville has activated their flood monitoring unit and is actively working to ensure the best balance for safeguarding infrastructure, property and materials.

Overton and Moore counties in Middle Tennessee have issued a state of emergency because of flooding in those counties.

A cold front is already making its way through West Tennessee on Saturday and will bring with it the chance for thunderstorms, damaging winds, and the possibility of tornadoes. Flooding will continue to pose a threat as flood warnings remain in place across Tennessee through the weekend. An additional concern will be the toppling of trees due to wind and saturated soil. </s> A state of emergency has been declared in Nebraska after heavy rains and melting snow caused history flooding throughout the state. Governor Pete Ricketts declared the state of emergency in order to allow access to relief funds and other resources. There has been at least one flood-related death reported, after one man was swept away by floodwaters.

Bryan Tuma, assistant director of the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency told Omaha World Herald that a farmer was driving a tractor to help a motorist who was stuck in the rising waters when he was suddenly swept away and killed. 



There has been evacuation across multiple eastern Nebraska towns, as well as at least one town in Iowa. 



According to the Lincoln State Journal, there have been thousands of residents asked to leave their homes as floods worsen. 



The flooding is a result of a powerful winter storm, dubbed a “bomb cyclone” which has left blizzards, floods and tornadoes in its wake as it tracked across the US Mountain and Plains states this week. Read More: Kansas and Oklahoma on HIGH ALERT as 15 TORNADO warnings issued in US

Thirteen tornadoes were reported in Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan on Thursday according to Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with the National Weather Center's Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.



However, none of the thirteen tornadoes was reported to have caused serious damage.



Dangerous flooding caused a dramatic rescue on Thursday, which saw emergency crew members saved by a National Guard helicopter after their boat capsized. 



The seven first responders were travelling along the Elkhorn River to assist a family trapped in their home when they capsized. 



It has now pushed eastwards into the Midwest and the Great Lakes Region as of early Friday local time. Persistent heavy rain from the severe storm falling on snowy and icy ground has caused rivers to swell and dangerous floodwaters to rise. 



This is impacting Nebraska, Wisconsin and other Midwestern States, whilst North Dakota faces severe winds and snow. 



Forecasters predict that flooding could last well into the weekend, with several highways becoming impassible in Wisconsin, and farmers worry that livestock would drown. 



Meteorologist Paul Fajman said: “With the frozen ground and amount of rain our area had, it was just a perfect set of circumstances that led to the flooding we’re seeing in Nebraska and Iowa.”



According to News Channel Nebraska, the Mormon Creek Bridge was completely washed away by the Niobrara River on Thursday morning. 



Residents who lived along the Niobrara were then urged to evacuate as the Spencer Dam failed. 



Flood waters have also destroyed and washed away Nebraska Department of Transportation buildings and equipment say News Channel Nebraska. </s> Flooding in parts of Tennessee has left one person dead and sparked a state of emergency this weekend.

One person died in Knoxville after driving his car into water on a flooded road early Sunday morning, according to Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

Knox County was under flash flood warning on Saturday afternoon and residents were warned that “this is a particularly dangerous situation. Seek higher ground now,” according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Nashville broke a rainfall record on Saturday making this the city’s wettest February in over 100 years.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) declared a state of emergency Saturday due to rising flood waters and “the potential for more severe weather,” according to the declaration.

In Chattanooga, a Subway restaurant was flattened by a mudslide caused by rain from the same storm system, according to the Signal Mountain Police Department.

Several areas of the city of Dunlap were flooding to dangerous levels, and firefighters were working to evacuate all of the residents that might be in danger from the rising water. Dunlap Fire Department posted video that showed Brush Creek transformed into a rushing river.

Betsy Gray posted video of flooding in Knoxville as rising waters came up into her backyard.

The flooding even impacted one of Tennessee’s most famous exports: Jack Daniel’s whiskey.

The grounds of the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg flooded on Saturday. Henry Feldhaus IV, who works at the distillery, assured CNN that all employees — and the whiskey — are safe.

As of Sunday at 11 a.m., there were nearly 300 river gauges above flood stage across the Southeast, CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said.

And river flooding is likely to get worse before it gets better. Although rain is not expected to return to the area until midweek, it takes time for the rivers, creeks and streams to get rid of all that water, she explained.

The water leaving the roadways, yards, and urban areas eventually drains into rivers, creeks and streams, so many of them will not crest until later in the week, Chinchar said. </s> This story is being provided free to all readers as a public service by the Knoxville News Sentinel. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency for Tennessee on Saturday after record-setting rainfall caused flooding across large parts of the state.

The announcement came as rainfall Saturday is expected to break the single-day record for February after reaching more than 4.5 inches in Knoxville by around 5:30 p.m. — with more rain expected to fall over night.

High winds are also expected to move through the area into Sunday, with gusts reaching upward of 30 mph.

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Sheriff Tom Spangler scoped out the flood damage in the county via helicopter broadcasts on Saturday.

Several live broadcasts from Jacobs' Twitter account show widespread flooding across parts of North Knox County with water frequently encroaching homes and covering roadways.

More: 'Lord , Jesus. I'm going to drown in my car:' Knoxville woman rescued from East Tennessee floods

Numerous emergency rescue operations have been conducted across East Tennessee as a flood watch remains in effect for most of the area through 10:30 p.m.

An emergency shelter has been opened at Central Baptist Church in Fountain City on Broadway by the American Red Cross for people in need of somewhere to stay.

Follow Andrew Capps for breaking news and updates on Twitter. Find more at bit.ly/jandrewcapps. </s> The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency said the state continues to be under a State of Emergency as flood response continues.

TEMA's Monday night update said many communities continue to experience flood conditions as they await rivers to crest in a number of locations.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is monitoring river crests across the state, particularly in Central Tennessee where levels are forecast to approach 'Action Stage' in spots along the Cumberland River.

A person was confirmed to have died in Clay County as a result of weather, making them the fourth weather-related fatality since Feb. 6.

Two of those deaths were in East Tennessee -- one being a 56-year-old man who drowned after his vehicle submerged on a flooded roadway near Ebenezer Road in Knox County Saturday night. The other was the 62-year-old Hawkins County man killed in a mudslide.

A 53-year-old woman in Cheatham County had also been killed after she was swept away in swift water.

TDEC said it is monitoring 14 drinking water systems that have experienced problems as a result of the flooding, including Roane County's Rockwood Water System.

So far, 14 counties have declared local States of Emergency in Tennessee. Claiborne, Sevier, and Scott counties are among those to make the declaration.

Many roadways locally continue to be flooded, some blocking access in and out of neighborhoods. TDOT is monitoring state routes where ponding is occurring on a number of roads in East Tennessee:

Greene Co.: SR 340 at Union Grove Road and Neilson Cemetery

Hancock Co.: SR 63 at Claiborne/Hancock County line and Alanthus Hill Road

Knox Co.: SR 332/S. Northshore Drive at Ebenezer Road, Little Creek Lane, and Thunderhead Road.

►RELATED: Northshore neighborhood entrance flooded for days with no way in or out

TDOT said 130 locations across the state are still being impacted by slides, rock-fall, flooded roads and other weather-related issues. Those include I-24 East north of Nashville at mile marker 42. I-40 past the TN/NC state line is also closed until the weekend due to a rockslide that occurred Friday night.

For those seeking shelter, there are two locations in East Tennessee. Central Baptist of Fountain City in Knox County at 5364 North Broadway, and the Pigeon Forge Community Center at 170 Community Center Drive in Sevier County are both operating as open shelters for those who were displaced by flooding.

TEMA said people with damaged homes as a result of the weather should notify their county emergency management agency for assistance. You can find a list of contacts here.

Those in need of help with downed trees can email the Tennessee Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (TN VOAD) at tennesseevoad@gmail.com.

People should remain alert of the road conditions ahead of them, and should never attempt to drive through roads with standing water covering them.

"It’s not just your life you risk going into flood water, you’re also risking the lives of those who will try to rescue you," TEMA said. </s> MEMPHIS — Homes, highways, parks and bridges throughout the South have been flooded or rendered out of commission Saturday, as the toll of days of drenching rains swelled waterways and pooled over saturated lands amid the threat of severe storms.

Interstate 40 near the border of Tennessee and North Carolina was closed due to a rockslide, one of the dozens of roads and highways shut down throughout the South, transportation officials said.

Tennessee Department of Transportation spokesman Mark Nagi said on Twitter that a "full scale detour" was in place, with traffic being diverted to Interstate 81 and Interstate 26.

In Bruce, Miss., rivers broke flood stage and flash floods poured into homes and businesses. WMC-TV reports that a local state of emergency was declared by officials in Grenada, Miss., after dozens of streets and homes flooded.

High water also threatened property in Tennessee, which, like many other areas of the South, has been soaked by several inches of rain over the past week. Officials said a mudslide destroyed a Subway restaurant in Chatanooga, Tenn. No injuries were reported.

The business' owner, Owen Megahee, had closed its doors on Friday at around noon after a tree fell on an employee's car.

"I saw part of the hill trying to come down, so I was like, 'Let's get everybody out of here,'" he said.

Officials with the Chattanooga Fire Department said his decision potentially saved lives.

"If they had it open, and employees and customers had been in there, we'd be talking about something much more serious," Fire Department spokesman Bruce Garner said. "People could have been hurt or killed for sure."

News outlets report that water rescues have been performed in some Middle Tennessee counties. Flash flood warnings and watches remained in place throughout the South.

Weather officials warned residents of the possibility of severe storms Saturday in western Tennessee, northern Mississippi and eastern Arkansas. Damaging winds, tornadoes and large hail were possible, the National Weather Service in Memphis reported.

Kentucky announced Friday that it was closing the U.S. 51 bridge over the Ohio River to Cairo, Ill., because of flooding on the southern approach. The bridge, which carries 4,700 vehicles a day, is likely to stay closed until Thursday, and possibly longer.

The Ohio River at Cairo is predicted to crest Sunday at its third-highest level ever recorded, and stay that high into next week. The Tennessee River near Savannah, Tenn., also is forecast to crest at near-record levels.

In North Carolina, a Catawba County building inspector said extra weight from rain is suspected to have contributed to a partial roof collapse at a child day care center in Hickory. The Hickory Daily Record reported that firefighters responded to a roof collapse at Rainbow Child Care Center on Thursday morning. There were no children at the facility at the time, and no injuries were reported.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press contributed to this story. </s> Disaster officials say heavy rains have caused a landslide in southwestern Colombia in which at least 14 people have died.

Colombia's national disaster agency says in a statement that the Easter Sunday landslide in the municipality of Rosas hit at least eight homes and blocked a stretch of the Pan-American Highway.

President Ivan Duque sent a tweet expressing "solidarity with families of victims." </s> ATLANTA – The governor of Georgia has declared a state of emergency in seven counties that have suffered deaths, injuries and severe damage from weekend storms.

Gov. Nathan Deal’s office said Sunday the emergency declaration includes Brooks, Cook and Berrien counties — where 11 people have been confirmed dead in south central Georgia near the Florida state line.

Also included were Atkinson, Colquitt, Lowndes and Thomas counties.

Deal said in a statement that state agencies are “making all resources available” to affected counties and “our thoughts and prayers are with Georgians suffering from the storm’s impact.”
A state of emergency is declared in Tennessee amid flooding that has caused landslides and one death.