Dozens of people unaccounted for, over 100 homes damaged after ...

Officials in southwestern Virginia say dozens of people are unaccounted for and likely over 100 homes were damaged after heavy rains caused devastating flooding in rural Buchanan County.

First responders, including swift water rescue teams, from across southwest and central Virginia headed to the area as water levels rose overnight and early Wednesday morning. On Tuesday, the National Weather Service office in Charleston, West Virginia, had issued a flash flood warning lasting into early Wednesday for parts of West Virginia and Virginia and also warned of severe thunderstorms in the area.

Gov. Glenn Younkin declared a state of emergency on Wednesday to respond to the severe flooding.

No deaths have been reported as a result of the flooding, Buchanan County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Eric Breeding said at a Wednesday news conference.

Authorities were investigating reports of 44 people who were unaccounted for, the sheriff's office said later Wednesday.

"This does not mean the person is missing, it means we are attempting to reach and locate the person and check on their wellbeing," the sheriff's office said in a post on social media.

Billy Chrimes, search and rescue specialist from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, said the storm caused "significant flooding" and damage to a "well over 100" homes. Hundreds of households were also without power Wednesday in Buchanan County, according to poweroutage.us.

Crews continued to survey the damage Wednesday, Chrimes said, adding that landslides and road conditions were creating obstacles for the 18 search and rescue teams that responded to the flooding.

Several roads in the area were closed due to flooding, Breeding said, urging residents to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary. A family reunification center and emergency shelter was set up at a local elementary and middle school, he said.

"We ask that everyone please pray for this area," Breeding said. "Please pray for those affected by this flooding."

Youngkin said in a Twitter statement he was "deeply saddened" by the flooding in Buchanan County.

"We are making every resource available to help those impacted," he said. "While rescue and recovery operations continue, please join me in prayer as we lift up our fellow Virginians impacted by this tragedy."

The flooding comes less than a year after Buchanan County suffered serious flooding damage when the remnants of a hurricane hit the area in August 2021, washing away homes and leaving one person dead.

Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Middle Tennessee Flash Floods: 21 dead, dozens missing in ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Tennessean is on the ground in Humphreys County to cover the aftermath of the devastating floods that rocked parts of Middle Tennessee. Here's how to get Tuesday's most recent updates as damage is assessed and recovery begins:

Twenty-one people are dead and dozens are missing in Humphreys County after severe flooding rocked the community Saturday.

Crews were going house to house in search of the missing people late Saturday, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis told The Tennessean. Davis said the flooding event is the worst he has seen in his 28 years with the department.

Power outages and a lack of cell phone service have compounded the problems. Portable units will be brought in to help establish communication lines, Davis said.

TENNESSEE FLOOD VICTIMS:How to help residents as extreme flash floods devastate Middle Tennessee

Rural roads and highways throughout Humphreys County were washed away Saturday.

The Tennessee National Guard was deployed to the county to assist residents there after up to 12 inches of rain fell in parts of Middle Tennessee on Saturday and caused catastrophic flooding.

More than 15 inches fell in Humphreys County, prompting water rescues, flooding roadways and briefly closing a large section of Interstate 40. The Piney River also shattered record water levels, the National Weather Service in Nashville reported.

More:Waverly residents recount harrowing flood escapes: 'I thought I was going to drown with my baby'

A state of emergency is in effect for Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties. A flash flood warning remains in effect until 11 p.m. The severe weather spurred a tornado warning Saturday evening.

Humphreys County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards said several people were missing in a text message early Saturday afternoon.

The Tennessee Valley Authority said 14.5 inches fell in McEwen, which is in Humphreys County, and local totals may approach 17 inches as reports come in. NWS Nashville meteorologist Krissy Hurley told The Tennessean parts of Hickman County got 11.66 inches of rain early Saturday. Lyles, also in Hickman County, got 9.05 inches, according to volunteers who help measure rainfall for the agency.

The river gauge on the Piney River at Vernon in Hickman County measured nearly 32 feet Saturday, shattering the river's record crest in 2019 by close to 12 feet, the NWS reported.

'I'M A NERVOUS WRECK':Dickson, Centerville residents anxious as flooding prompts water rescues

In Humphreys County, Hurley called the situation in cities like Waverly and McEwen a "dire, catastrophic situation."

"People are trapped in their homes and have no way to get out," she said. "Water is up to their necks. It is catastrophic — the worst kind of situation.”

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and Williamson County assisted affected counties Saturday. The Tennessee Department of Health is working with local nursing homes to make sure staff can access the facilities.

A large portion of Interstate 40 near mile marker 153 reopened after being closed in both directions near Bucksnort in Hickman County and part of Humphreys County due to the rain. Highway 70 in Waverly remained closed Saturday night from flooding.

Shelters open

Four shelters opened Saturday to help people affected by the storms:

Waverly Church of Christ - 438 West Main St., Waverly

YMCA of Dickson County - 225 Henslee Drive, Dickson

First Baptist Church - 300 East Main St., Waverly

Fairfield Church of Christ - 1860 TN-100, Centerville

Lee tells people to stay cautious

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee tweeted about the situation around 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

"Tennesseans, please stay cautious of rising floodwaters caused by heavy rainfall in parts of Middle TN," Lee wrote. "We are actively working with emergency response officials & first responders as they support Tennesseans in flooded areas."

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency called the situation "dangerous and evolving" and urged people to avoid travel in the affected counties.

"We are working with local officials and first responders to provide resources and support," TEMA said in a tweet.

Dickson County flooding subsides

Most flooding in Dickson had subsided by early afternoon Saturday after inches of rain prompted road closures and at least 11 water rescues. Old Pond Road was just one of the few roads that remained closed Saturday afternoon.

Roadways into Waverly were closed due to flooding and debris that littered two-lane

serpentine roadways throughout Dickson. Trucks and ATVs crawled along Little Blue Creek Road in Dickson in an attempt to reach Waverly but were forced to turn around due to a flooded bridge.

Corn fields in Dickson were filled with rivers of water. Several driveways along the road were washed away by swift water.

Several people posted on social media in search of family members they were unable to reach in Waverly.

Multiple water rescue teams deployed

The Tennessee Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team has deployed three teams to Humphreys County to help with water rescues, at the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

The Nashville Fire Department and the Nashville Office of Emergency Management is also sending four swift water rescue teams to Humphreys County, alongside teams from Williamson County.

The City of Dickson, where nearly 7 inches of rain fell, reported that emergency crews responded to 11 water rescue calls as of 8 a.m. Dickson County Emergency Management Director Rob Fisher said Dickson swift water rescue team was deployed all over the county.

Dickson County Public Works reported most flooding had subsided as of 12:30 p.m. with the exception of Old Pond Road.

Rare 'flash flood emergency' alert issued

The drastic rainfall prompted the NWS to issue a rare flash flood emergency for Houston, Humphreys, Dickson and Hickman counties.

"That’s about 20-25% of the yearly rain fall total that this area sees in a year, and we saw this morning," Hurley, the meteorologist, said.

She said another 2-4 inches are possible as rain continues to pelt the area, but that the intensity of the rain will wane throughout the day.

Several roadways throughout Hickman County were also closed due to flooding, Hickman County Emergency Management reported.

Areas on the west side of Interstate 24 are likely to see the highest possibility of flooding. The NWS said Saturday morning there were multiple reports of water rescues, washed-out roads and significant flash flooding.

Meteorologists expect rain to persist through the morning and afternoon Saturday. Sunday might produce some drizzles, NWS said, but the most action is expected Saturday.

Middle Tennessee weather radar

Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman. To stay updated on Williamson County news, sign up for our newsletter.

All missing people have been found after severe flooding in Virginia

(CNN) Everyone has been found after reports of more than 40 people missing in a rural Virginia county inundated by a torrential downpour that tore homes from their foundations and damaged roads and bridges.

Crews worked overnight and through the morning in the flooded areas to help locate the 44 people who had been reported missing, Buchanan County Sheriff Chief Deputy Eric Breeding said in a news conference Thursday.

"We are happy to report that zero people are unaccounted for in the impact area," Breeding said. "We're also happy to report we are at zero fatalities."

Six inches of rain in just hours Tuesday caused extensive damage in the western Virginia county, CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford said. "Combined with the fact that the area is mountainous, rainfall is able to collect quickly, and dangerous runoff occurred," he said.

The "monumental" search effort for missing persons in Buchanan County covered about 30 miles and 400 structures, Virginia Department of Emergency Management search and rescue specialist Billy Chrimes said.

A truck sits on the edge of a river, Thursday, July 14, 2022, in Whitewood, Virginia, after being swept away in a flash flood.

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Fred flooding: 2 dead, 17 missing in North Carolina; tornado warnings

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The remnants of Tropical Storm Fred soaked the Northeast on Thursday as Southern states assessed the damage from severe flooding, which in North Carolina had left two people dead and 17 missing.

Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency as western North Carolina saw intense flooding, with nearly 100 people rescued, after Fred drenched the state as a tropical depression earlier in the week.

Cooper planned to survey flood damage later Thursday afternoon. U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis toured the area earlier in the day.

The storm that blew through the area Tuesday made roads impassible, washed out bridges and swamped homes and businesses.

Meanwhile, the remnants of Fred were forecast to bring up to 5 inches of rain from New York State across New England on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Flash flood watches were in effect for much of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and parts of Maine.

The weather service also warned a tornado was possible, and tornado warnings were issued across several New York and New England counties Thursday.

In North Carolina and West Virginia, power had largely been restored after about 37,000 customers were without electricity Wednesday, according to the utility tracker poweroutage.us. But about 17,000 customers in Pennsylvania and New York didn't have power as of Thursday afternoon, the tracker reported.

Monday and Tuesday marked the heaviest two-day rainfall in more than 50 years in Buncombe County, which includes Asheville, and neighboring Haywood County endured the worst of the storm, Cooper said in a news conference Wednesday.

More from North Carolina:Tropical Depression Fred prompts state of emergency, with 35 missing in Haywood County

The number of people unaccounted for in Haywood County since the start of Tropical Depression Fred has gone from 20 to 17 as of late Thursday, said Allison Richmond, Haywood County Emergency Services spokeswoman.

Richmond also confirmed the two fatalities and said officials were still working with the medical examiner on identifications.

Damage to roadways and bridges was significant, with at least 10 to 15 bridges damaged or destroyed, she said. About 200 search and rescue personnel were going home to home along the Pigeon River.

“We have homes that are completely destroyed and off their foundations,” Sheriff Greg Christopher said. “Mobile homes that were moved, and mobile home parks that I would call completely destroyed.”

Haywood County Board of Commissioners Chair Kevin Ensley said damage done to structures as a result of the storm totals about $300 million in the small Haywood unincorporated community of Cruso, which is considered the hardest hit by Fred. Ensley said 225 structures, including homes, were destroyed.

Ronnie Hannah, who has lived on Cruso Road for 74 years, had his chain-link fence ripped from the ground and his lawn destroyed in the storm.

"I’ve never seen anything this devastating,” Hannah said of the damage to the community. “I get depressed. I come out here and sit down and just think of what it looked like."

Jessica Vecchio, her two sons, two dogs and five cats slept in an SUV after their apartment was destroyed by flooding on Tuesday. “We we’re just putting stuff in bags that we could, trying to save what we could,” she said.

In Buncombe County, there were about 70 water rescues, and 911 call centers fielded double the typical volume of calls in a 24-hour period, spokesperson Lillian Govus said.

The storm caused rockslides and downed trees, including on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The popular national park, which winds directly through Asheville, was almost completely closed in western North Carolina during the peak of the storm Tuesday, said spokesperson Leesa Brandon. Much has been cleared since, but the most of the main corridor through Asheville remained closed Wednesday, Brandon added.

Videos shared on social media also showed a river in the Pisgah National Forest with waters raging as river levels rose from the rainfall.

“What really caught us by surprise was how quickly the water rose, the tremendous amount and intensity of it,” said Zeb Smathers, mayor of the town of Canton, where water rescues also were needed.

Hurricane and COVID-19:Here's what you need to protect yourself.

Fred has been blamed for at least one other death after a driver hydroplaned and flipped into a ditch near Panama City, Florida.

The storm roared ashore Monday near Cape San Blas in the Florida Panhandle as a tropical storm. Fred flooded streets, knocked down power lines and trees and destroyed houses, mobile homes and other buildings across the South during its march north.

The storm caused more than a dozen tornadoes in Georgia and the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service.

Two other storms, Tropical Storm Grace and Tropical Storm Henri, were active in the Atlantic Basin on Thursday. Grace made landfall in Mexico as a hurricane on Thursday, and Henri could be a threat to the Northeast and New England early next week.

Contributing: Karen Chávez, Asheville Citizen Times; Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

Ida death toll rises after Northeast flooding; Biden visits Louisiana

President Joe Biden visited hard-hit Louisiana, telling officials, "We're going to have your back."

The death toll was highest in New Jersey, where at least 25 people died.

At least a dozen deaths due to flooding and carbon monoxide poisoning were also reported in the South.

Flooded cars and strewn debris were hauled away Friday as cleanup continued after Hurricane Ida battered the Northeast and the South, leaving over 60 people dead across eight states.

Ida, one of the strongest storms to ever hit the mainland U.S., rushed ashore Sunday in Louisiana with 150 mph winds, then shocked the Northeast with torrential rainfall, surging rivers and tornado damage on Wednesday and Thursday.

The storm drowned dozens of people in their cars. Others were swept away by floodwaters, killed under a falling tree, or submerged by rising water in basement apartments.

The death toll was highest in New Jersey, where at least 25 people died. At least 16 deaths were reported in New York. Deaths were also reported in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Connecticut, where a state police sergeant died after his cruiser was swept away by floodwaters early Thursday morning.

Over a dozen deaths due to flooding and carbon monoxide poisoning were also reported in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. In Louisiana, officials launched an investigation into the deaths of four nursing home residents who evacuated to a warehouse as Hurricane Ida approached. Three of those deaths were related to the storm.

'I have no words':Ida leaves a path of heartbreak, horror across 8 states.

Some good news emerged in Louisiana on Friday: Power should be restored to almost all of New Orleans by Wednesday, 10 days after Ida destroyed the city’s electrical grid and left more than 1 million customers in Louisiana without power, utility officials said Friday. That number had dropped to nearly 850,000 customers as of Friday afternoon, according to utility tracker poweroutage.us.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden was visiting hard-hit Louisiana on Friday. Biden met with Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and other local officials to tour a neighborhood in LaPlace, a community between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain that was inundated by storm surge flooding that left people trapped in attics. Republicans Sen. Bill Cassidy and Rep. Steve Scalise were also present.

The path from the airport where Air Force One touched down to LaPlace was dotted with uprooted trees and destroyed power line poles, making the devastation from the hurricane apparent.

"I promise we’re going to have your back," Biden said as he was briefed by officials.

In an address Friday afternoon, Biden stressed the importance of modernizing infrastructure to better prepare communities for future superstorms and pledged that his administration would pressure insurance companies to cover living expenses for displaced Louisianans.

He also completed a flyover tour of hard-hit areas including Lafitte, Grand Isle, Port Fourchon and Lafourche Parish, where Parish President Archie Chaisson said 25% of the homes in his community of 100,000 were gone or had catastrophic damage.

Nationwide, the storm likely caused tens of billions of dollars in damage from flooding, high winds and electrical grid wreckage.

Buildings had collapsed as water burst through seams in brick walls. People clung to trees, stranded as they watched rising waters. Dozens of vehicles plunged into a sinkhole that opened along a southeastern Mississippi highway.

In New York City, police Det. Fahed Alfalhi was heading home from his precinct in Queens when he found himself shivering in water up to the SUV’s steering wheel. When his engine stalled and water rushed in, he jumped into the water and swam to refuge at a neighbor's home.

In New Jersey, Anthony Lauro, owner of Anthony’s Cheesecake & Restaurant in Bloomfield, said he hasn’t been this upset since his mother died.

His restaurant, which was remodeled in March after a dismal year due to COVID-19, is destroyed following the rain and floods from Ida. Water and mud cover the floors of the kitchen and dining room. The basement is submerged in 5 feet of water.

All the storage, stock and food in the restaurant is unsalvageable. The outdoor café is toppled and muddy. “We lost pretty much everything,” said Lauro.

More:Mold a concern days after Hurricane Ida passes through Louisiana

More:Catastrophic photos and video show Hurricane Ida's path of destruction across Louisiana

As heavy rain subsided, millions of people across the Northeast remained under flood warnings Friday as rainwater continued to gush through rivers and streams. Crews continued cleanup efforts as they hauled debris, washed mud from streets and tried to restore service on transportations systems that had been overwhelmed by rushing floodwaters.

Biden late Thursday approved disaster declarations for New York and New Jersey. The federal action was issued to mobilize agencies to provide assistance to areas hardest-hit by the storm.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday called Ida "the biggest wake-up call we could possibly get" as the intensity and frequency of storms rise.

"We are in a new world now, let's be blunt," he said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul urged people to turn their attention to storm systems unprepared to handle more frequent flash flooding due to climate change.

"One thing I want to make clear: we’re not treating this as if it’s not going to happen again for 500 years," she said Thursday.

Contributing: The Associated Press; Peter D. Kramer, Rockland/Westchester Journal News; Rebecca King, NorthJersey.com

Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.

Multiple people dead, dozens missing amid 'catastrophic' flooding in ...

Multiple people are missing across Tennessee and North Carolina amid heavy rainfall that brought on severe flooding. North Carolina was recently battered by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred, causing at least four deaths in Haywood County.

At least eight people are dead and 40 missing in Humphreys County, Tennessee, after severe flooding Saturday. Sheriff Chris Davis told The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, the flooding is the worst he has seen in 28 years with the department.

Rainfall in middle Tennessee has shattered records for water levels on the Piney River, according to the National Weather Service. More than 11 inches of rain was dumped on parts of Hickman County early Saturday morning. A state of emergency is in effect through Saturday afternoon in Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties.

McEwan, Tennessee, saw 14.5 inches of rain, the Tennessee Valley Authority said. A flash flood emergency is also in effect in Waverly, McEwen and Tennessee Ridge through Saturday evening.

The situation was "life-threatening," the Nashville National Weather Service said in a tweet Saturday.

"People are trapped in their homes and have no way to get out," NWS Nashville meteorologist Krissy Hurley told The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. "Water is up to their necks. It is catastrophic, the worst kind of situation.”

Several people are missing in the region, according to Hickman County Chief Deputy Rob Edwards.

An additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible in areas that already received between 8 and 12 inches Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said.

In North Carolina, four people have been confirmed dead in the flooding brought on by Fred this week, after two bodies were recovered Saturday. Their identities have not been made public. Franklin McKenzie, 67, and Frank Mungo, 86, were previously identified among the dead.

Seven people are still missing in Haywood County, including Judy Ann Mason, who has been missing since around 3 p.m. Tuesday from Laurel Bank Campground in Canton, a family friend told The Asheville Citizen Times.

Mason's daughter, Naomi Haney, said the last text she got from her mother was, "Anything can happen to anyone any time.”

Day three of search and rescue was underway Saturday in Haywood, with teams from the other side of the state assisting in the search of miles of riverbank and rugged terrain.

Haywood County flood survivor:'I just saw everything floating away'

Cruso, North Carolina, is a small town that received some of the worst damage in the storm.

"It's gone. There's nothing there," Sherrie McArthur, who owns Laurel Bank Campground in the area, told the Citizen Times. "I had 100 sites, and they're all gone. I had campers in there — most all of them are gone, except maybe 10. What is still left is squashed, crushed. Some of them went totally down the river — I don't know where they'll be."

Emergency officials with cadaver dogs were on site Thursday, McArthur said.

Contributing: Brinley Hineman and Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean; John Boyle and Joel Burgess, Asheville Citizen Times

Afghanistan, Taliban updates, Dozens missing in N.C. amid floods: 5 ...

Taylor Wilson

USA TODAY

On today's episode of the 5 Things podcast: The Taliban marks Afghanistan's Independence Day as challenges rise. Food shortages there are already an acute concern. Plus, booster shots are coming (for some), dozens are missing in North Carolina after Fred flooding, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer continues to face a civil hearing on alleged abuse and Mark Zuckerberg has a big announcement.

Hit play on the player above to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text.

Taylor Wilson:

Morning, I'm Taylor Wilson. And this is 5 Things you need to know, Thursday, the 19th of August, 2021. Today, early days of Taliban rule plus booster shots are coming, but only for some, and more.

Taylor Wilson:

Here are some of the top headlines.

Washington state is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine mandate to include all teachers and staff, including in public and private schools, and universities. Those who are not fully vaccinated by October 18th risk losing their jobs. Turkey-backed Syrian forces and Syrian Kurdish fighters shelled one another in Northern Syria on Wednesday. At least five people were killed and a dozen injured. And Disney World is getting rid of its FastPass. The park, along with Disneyland, will instead shift to a new tool that allows guests to join virtual queues.

Taylor Wilson:

It's Independence Day in Afghanistan. The Taliban celebrated Thursday by declaring they had defeated the United States. But amid their celebrations, there are new challenges for the Taliban. There are food concerns and ATM's are out of money in major cities. The Taliban now must run an already complicated civilian government, without the same international aid the overthrown government had. On Thursday, the Taliban said, "Today we are celebrating the anniversary of independence from Britain. We, at the same time, as a result of our jihadi resistance, forced another arrogant power of the world, the United States, to fail and retreat from our holy territory of Afghanistan." But similar to pass Taliban rule, their words aren't quite matching their actions.

Taylor Wilson:

They have not acknowledged their violent suppression of a protest in the eastern city of Jalalabad. At least one person was killed after demonstrators lowered the Taliban flag and replaced it with Afghanistan's tri-color. And there are reports of 24-hour curfews in some rural parts of the country. A drought has also destroyed about 40% of the country's food, and it appears the vast majority of Afghanistan's $9 billion in foreign reserves is frozen in the US. The head of the Afghan Central Bank said there are nearly no physical US dollars left in the country, which could mean devastating inflation for its currency, the Afghani.

Taylor Wilson:

There has been no armed opposition to the Taliban's weeks-long blitz through the country, but new videos appear to show a stronghold of Northern Alliance militants who allied with the US during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. They're gathering in the Panjshir Valley part of the only province in the country that has not fallen to the Taliban. Meanwhile, the US is still in the country, continuing its work at Kabul's airport before leaving at the end of the month. State Department Spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday that the US is in contact with the Taliban.

Ned Price:

So we know that time is of the essence. We will do everything we can, in the first instance, to make the most of the time we have, but to potentially even explore if there is more time that we may have. And we will do that in any number of ways. You've heard the Deputy Secretary, you've heard me talk about the channels of communication we have, excuse me, with the Taliban. That, at first, was primarily conducted through Doha. That channel continues to exist. Now, we have an additional channel, the US Military has a channel with the Taliban as well. These channels have been constructive. We have used these channels to good effect. It is our intent to continue to use these channels, to pursue what is in our interest, of course, but also what is in the interest of the Afghan people.

Taylor Wilson:

As for immediate US actions over the next few weeks, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that the US can no longer extend security forces beyond the airport to help get more Afghan civilians out of the country.

Lloyd Austin:

We will continue to deconflict issues with the Taliban, and we will stay focused on securing the airfield. We cannot afford to either not defend that airfield or not have an airfield that's secure, where we have hundreds or thousands of civilians that can access the airfield at will and put our forces at risk. But we're going to do everything we can to continue to try to deconflict and create passage ways for them to get to the airfield. I don't have the capability to go out and extend operations currently into Kabul.

Speaker:

You have the capability to go out and collect Americans.

Lloyd Austin:

We don't have the capability to go out and collect up large numbers of people. We're really working hard to get as many people through as possible. And quite frankly, it's obvious we're not close to where we want to be in terms of getting the numbers through, so we're going to work that 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we're going to get everyone that we can possibly evacuate evacuated. And I'll do that as long as we possibly can, until the clock runs out, or we run out capability.

Taylor Wilson:

President Joe Biden said Wednesday, that US troops will stay in Afghanistan beyond the end of the month if necessary, to make sure all Americans are evacuated. Stay with usatoday.com for the latest from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.

Taylor Wilson:

Booster shots are coming. President Joe Biden said Wednesday, that booster doses will be offered, beginning September 20th, for American adults who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, at least eight months after their second dose. mRNA vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna are still extremely effective at reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death from the virus. But federal officials said that new data does show the vaccine's effectiveness decreases over time. People who got the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will probably also need a booster shot, but health officials said Wednesday, that they're still collecting data because the federal rollout of that vaccine didn't begin in the US until March. Like early rounds of vaccinations earlier this year, initial booster doses will go to people who were fully vaccinated first. They include healthcare workers and older Americans. Booster shots for now will also only be offered to Americans aged 18 and older. Officials are waiting on an FDA review before giving guidance on vaccinated people aged 12 to 17.

Taylor Wilson:

The move to offer boosters is not without criticism, particularly abroad. The World Health Organization has called for a booster shot moratorium to allow poorer under vaccinated countries to catch up. But Biden said the US will continue to ship huge amounts of vaccine doses around the world. He said the US will administer some 100 million booster shots to Americans in the coming months, but will donate more than 200 million doses abroad in that same timeframe.

Taylor Wilson:

At least 35 people are missing in North Carolina after Fred tore through the state on Wednesday. That's in Haywood County, in the western part of the state, near Tennessee. The Pigeon River there is still flooding and around 100 people were rescued this week. The County's Sheriff, Greg Christopher, also said that some homes in the area have been completely destroyed. Fred is next expected to move from Central Pennsylvania to Southern New York State, and then east onto New England. Behind it, Grace was upgraded to a hurricane on Wednesday in the Caribbean. It's the second hurricane of the 2021 season and heading for Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a popular tourist destination. It could make landfall Thursday with up to a foot of rain.

Taylor Wilson:

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer continues to face a civil hearing this week. A woman has given more than nine hours of testimony in front of him. A warning, the following details are graphic. She says Bauer punched her face and vagina during a sexual encounter at his home in May. She then sought a temporary restraining order in June because she feared what he might do after he learned she went to the hospital with injuries, including scratches on her face and bruises on her buttocks. Bauer has not been arrested or charged. His representatives have said the encounter was consensual, and that she's motivated to get a money settlement. They cited text messages between the two that show she was asking for rough sex. But the accuser said text messages don't mean consent, and that she did not consent to bruises all over her body, or things done to her while unconscious. Pasadena, California Police and Major League Baseball are still investigating the matter. And Bauer has been on paid leave since July 2nd.

Taylor Wilson:

At the civil hearing, a judge will decide whether to erase the restraining order or extend it up to five years. Bauer has not yet spoken in the hearing. The question of whether or not he will, could be answered on Thursday. The woman's legal team has said they will call Bauer to the stand, but his lawyer say he'll decline using the Fifth Amendment.

Taylor Wilson:

Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg, will make a big announcement on Thursday about the company. He'll do so on CBS This Morning. And before his appearance, he already told host Gayle King, that the social media giant has removed some 18 million posts for misinformation about COVID-19. It's been a profitable year for the company so far, but as Money and Tech Editor Brett Molina says, Facebook has its sights set well beyond 2021.

Brett Molina:

Facebook recently reported quarterly earnings and shocker, they made a ton of money. Specifically, as the Associated Press reports, second quarter profits doubled thanks to a massive increase in advertising revenue. More interesting though than the tons of money Facebook's pulling in, are comments made by Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently, on the metaverse, which many people believe will ultimately replace the internet. In a conference call with analysts, Zuckerberg called the metaverse, the "next generation of the internet and next chapter for us as a company", and he talked a little bit more about how he thinks the metaverse will create entirely new experiences, and new economic opportunities. So new ways to make money for Facebook.

Brett Molina:

But that's not all, Zuckerberg has talked quite a bit about the metaverse in recent weeks. He conducted an interview with tech site, The Verge, where he explained his vision of what the metaverse looks like. "You can think about the metaverse as an embodied internet, where instead of just viewing content, you are in it. And you feel present with other people as if you were in other places, having different experiences that you couldn't necessarily do on a 2D app or webpage, like dancing, for example, or different types of fitness." We've already seen hints of what the metaverse might look like in various forms. For example, if you play the video game Fortnite, or if you know people that play Fortnite, they have hosted multiple live concerts within the game, featuring stars such as Marshmello and Travis Scott. And what happens is, players will log into the game as if they're going to play and they'll go attend this virtual event.

Brett Molina:

We've also seen other experiences do this too, Roblox, for example, has talked a lot about pushing into this area where it works kind of similarly, where players use their avatar and they go attend events that are within the Roblox universe. It's a very interesting space. I think people are still trying to figure out what exactly the metaverse is. It's definitely very different than what we're used to. But again, a lot of people see this as the next step past the internet.

Taylor Wilson:

You can hear more of Brett on the Talking Tech podcast. Find the show wherever you're listening right now. And same goes for 5 Things, you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your pods. Thanks as always to Shannon Green and Claire Thornton, for their great work on the show. 5 Things is part of the USA TODAY Network.

Tennessee flooding: Location, damage, victims from August flash ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Tennessean is on the ground in Humphreys County to cover the aftermath of the devastating floods that rocked parts of Middle Tennessee. Here's how to get Tuesday's most recent updates as damage is assessed and recovery begins:

The Tennessee National Guard was deployed to Humphreys County to assist residents after 15 inches of rain devastated the area on Saturday, killing 21 people and leaving dozens missing.

An estimated 40 people are missing in Humphreys County after severe flooding rocked the community and surrounding areas in Middle Tennessee.

Between 8 and 15 inches of rain fell across Houston, Humphreys, Dickson and Hickman counties, according to the National Weather Service. In McEwen, located in Humphreys County, 14.5 inches of rain fell over 12 hours, according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. Local totals may approach 17 inches as more reports come in, TVA said.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency as it coordinated the statewide effort to help the affected counties.

Water rescue teams from across the state deployed to Humphreys County, including the Tennessee Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team. Water rescue crews from Nashville, Dickson County and Williamson County were also dispatched.

NWS Nashville meteorologist Krissy Hurley said the NWS heard reports of Humphreys County residents trapped in homes with water up to their necks.

Flooding damages homes:Middle Tennessee flash flooding forces families to be rescued: it was 'hell'

Live updates:'Dire, catastrophic situation'

Middle Tennessee flooding:Aerial shots show extent of flooding in Middle Tennessee

"It is catastrophic," Hurley said. "The worst kind of situation."

'I have nothing': Waverly woman shares harrowing rescue

A Waverly couple was rescued from the attic of their home after being stranded for several hours.

“Hell. That’s what we had to go through,” said 48-year-old Cindy Dunn.

She and her husband, Jimmy Dunn, 49, were rescued by a crew driving a bulldozer that raised the bucket up to their attic window. Now, they are heading to Clarksville with family.

She said they lost everything.

“I have no credit cards. I have no bank cards. No IDs. I have nothing,” she said.

Their morning began normally enough, according to Cindy Dunn said.

“My husband said one minute he was (watching TV news) and the next minute we had no garage,” she said.

Her husband woke her up to say her car had floated to the backyard. The water in their house rose to at least 6 feet high, forcing them into the attic. She said climbing onto their rooftop was not an option.

“My husband is dealing with cancer. He’s going through chemotherapy," she said. "And I am an amputee. So there was no going anywhere besides the attic."

Cindy Dunn said their home and the neighboring houses “are gone.”

River level records broken:Rainfall, river level records shattered in Middle Tennessee flash flood

Rare 'flash flood emergency' issued; records broken

NWS Nashville issued a rare "flash flood emergency" for Houston, Humphreys, Dickson and Hickman counties as the rain fell.

Hurley said a record-level buildup of moisture in the atmosphere helped drive Saturday's rainfall. She said the floods were aggravated by storms that "trained," meaning they moved across the same areas over and over again.

Hurley said it's difficult to determine a daily rainfall record in the four affected counties because the NWS does not have official observation sites in the area. Volunteers help relay reports of rainfall totals.

Still, Hurley was confident Saturday easily surpassed the daily rainfall record for the region.

The Piney River, which runs through Hickman County, shattered its record high as it reached 31.8 feet by midday, NWS Nashville said. The previous record was 20.08 feet, set in February 2019.

By comparison, Saturday's rainfall totals surpass that of the deadly March 2021 flash flooding in the Nashville area, which averaged between 6 and 8 inches. In September 2020, the Nolensville and Mt. Pleasant areas experienced flooding after 5 to 8 inches of rainfall.

In the historic May 2010 flood in Tennessee, the heaviest rainfall averaged between 14 and 15 inches in just two days across Davidson, Williamson, Dickson, Hickman, Benton, Perry and Humphreys counties.

Agencies statewide rush to help

An emergency operations center was set up in Nashville to coordinate response to the floods, TEMA reported. Shelters were also opened in Dickson, Hickman and Humphreys counties. The Tennessee Highway Patrol was on hand in all four of the affected counties to help with traffic, water rescues and general law enforcement duties, TEMA said.

Gov. Bill Lee tweeted about the situation around 12:30 p.m. Saturday and urged caution for those in the affected areas.

"We are actively working with emergency response officials & first responders as they support Tennesseans in flooded areas," Lee wrote.

The Tennessee National Guard, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Department of Education, Tennessee Department of Human Needs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Fire Mutual Aid, and more were involved, according to TEMA.

Reach Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com and on Twitter @rachelannwegner. Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@tennessean.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.

Flooding in Germany, Belgium kills over 50, leave dozens missing

Frank Jordans

Associated Press

Recent storms across parts of western Europe made rivers and reservoirs burst their banks, triggering flash floods.

Schuld is among the worst-hit German villages, with homes collapsed and dozens of people missing.

52nd Civil Engineer squadron and volunteers from U.S. air base at Spangdahlem, Germany, are helping.

BERLIN — More than 50 people have died and dozens were missing Thursday as heavy flooding in Germany and Belgium turned streams and streets into raging torrents that swept away cars and caused houses to collapse.

Recent storms across parts of western Europe made rivers and reservoirs burst their banks, triggering flash floods overnight after the saturated soil couldn't absorb any more water.

"I grieve for those who have lost their lives in this disaster," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a visit to Washington, expressing shock at the scope of the flooding. "We still don't know the number. But it will be many."

She pledged that everything would be done to find those still missing, adding: "'Heavy rain and flooding' doesn't capture what happened.

Homes crushed, people rescued from roofs

Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia state said at least 30 people had died, while 19 deaths were reported in Rhineland-Palatinate state to the south. Belgian media reported eight deaths in that country.

Among the worst-hit German villages was Schuld, where several homes collapsed and dozens of people remained unaccounted for.

Rescue operations were hampered by blocked roads and phone and internet outages across the Eifel, a volcanic region of rolling hills and small valleys. Some villages were reduced to rubble as old brick and timber houses couldn't withstand the sudden rush of water, often carrying trees and other debris as it gushed through narrow streets.

Karl-Heinz Grimm, who had come to help his parents in Schuld, said he had never seen the small Ahr River surge in such a deadly torrent.

"This night, it was like madness,” he said.

Related:'Farewell visit'? Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to meet as she prepares to leave office

Dozens of people had to be rescued from the roofs of their houses with inflatable boats and helicopters. Germany deployed hundreds of soldiers to assist.

"There are people dead, there are people missing, there are many who are still in danger," the governor of Rhineland-Palatinate state, Malu Dreyer, told the regional parliament. "We have never seen such a disaster. It's really devastating."

The 52nd Civil Engineer squadron and several volunteers from the U.S. air base at Spangdahlem filled and distributed hundreds of sandbags to help protect homes and businesses in the area, the U.S. European Command said.

In Belgium, the Vesdre River spilled over its banks and sent water churning through the streets of Pepinster, near Liege, where a rescue operation by firefighters went wrong when a small boat capsized and three elderly people disappeared.

“Unfortunately, they were quickly engulfed,” said Mayor Philippe Godin. “I fear they are dead.”

In Verviers, the prosecutor’s office said several bodies had been found but could not confirm local media reports that four people were killed there.

Major highways were inundated in southern and eastern parts of the country, and the railway said all trains were halted.

In Liege, a city of 200,000, the Meuse River overflowed its banks Thursday and the mayor asked people living nearby to move to higher ground.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged to help, tweeting: "My thoughts are with the families of the victims of the devastating floods in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands and those who have lost their homes."

The full extent of the damage was still unclear, with many villages cut off by floods and landslides that made roads impassable. Videos on social media showed cars floating down streets and houses partially collapsed.

Many of the dead were only discovered after floodwaters receded. Police said four people died in separate incidents after their basements were flooded in Cologne, Kamen and Wuppertal.

Authorities in the Rhine-Sieg county south of Cologne ordered the evacuation of several villages below the Steinbachtal reservoir amid fears a dam could break.

Two firefighters died in rescue operations in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany's most populous state.

Climate change may play role in devastating storms

Gov. Armin Laschet paid tribute to them and pledged swift help for those affected.

"We don't know the extent of the damage yet, but we won't leave the communities, the people affected alone," he said during a visit to the flood-hit city of Hagen.

Laschet, a conservative who is running to succeed Merkel as chancellor in this fall's election, said the unusually heavy storms and an earlier heat wave could be linked to climate change.

Political opponents have criticized Laschet, the son of a miner, for supporting the region's coal industry and hampering the expansion of wind power during his tenure.

Stefan Rahmstorf, a professor of ocean physics at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said it was unclear whether the extreme rainfall seen in Germany was a direct result of planetary warming.

"But one can state that such events are becoming more frequent due to global warming," he told The Associated Press, noting that warmer air can absorb more water vapor that eventually falls as rain.

"The increase in heavy rain and decrease in days with weak rain is now also clearly seen in observational data, especially in the mid-northern latitudes, which includes Germany," Rahmstorf said.

The weakening of the summer circulation of the atmosphere, causing longer-lasting weather patterns such as heat waves or continuous rain, might also play a role, he added.

Rainfall eased later Thursday across Germany, although water levels on the Mosel and Rhine rivers were expected to continue rising.

Dutch troops help with evacuations

In the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, visited the hard-hit Dutch town of Valkenburg on Thursday evening to support residents and emergency services. Flooding turned the main street into a torrent of brown water, inundating homes and businesses.

The Dutch government sent about 70 troops to the southern province of Limburg late Wednesday to help with evacuations and filling sandbags. Authorities said they expect to evacuate homes near swollen rivers Friday as water from Germany and Belgium churns through the Netherlands.

In northeastern France, heavy rains flooded vegetable fields, many homes and a World War I museum in Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Firefighters evacuated people from campgrounds around the town of Fresnes-en-Woevre, according to the local firefighter service. Bastille Day fireworks were canceled in some small towns.

The Aire River rose to its highest levels in 30 years in some areas, according to local newspaper L'Est Republicain.

The equivalent of two months of rain has fallen in some areas over two days, according to the French national weather service, with flood warnings issued for 10 regions. No injuries or deaths have been reported, but forecasters warned of mudslides and more rain on Friday.

A train route to Luxembourg was disrupted, and firefighters evacuated dozens of people near the Luxembourg-German border and in the Marne region, according to broadcaster France Bleu.

Associated Press writers Raf Casert in Brussels, Angela Charlton in Paris, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen and Mike Corder in The Hague contributed.

Deadly Alabama floods and heavy rain leaves communities ...

Jay Reeves

Associated Press

PELHAM, Ala. – Terrified drivers climbed out of swamped cars and muddy floodwater flowed through neighborhoods after a stalled weather front drenched Alabama for hours, leaving entire communities underwater Thursday and killing at least four people.

Dozens of people had to be rescued Wednesday night in central Alabama, where the National Weather Service said as much as 13 inches of rain fell, and a south Alabama town temporarily lost its main grocery store when a creek came through the doors of the Piggly Wiggly. Near the coast, heavy rains caused sewage to bubble out of underground pipes.

Metro Birmingham remained under a flash flood watch much of the day until storms moved into Georgia. Another 3 inches of rain could fall there and in western South Carolina by nightfall, the weather service said, and the Florida Panhandle could get doused.

A 4-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman died in separate incidents when floods carried away vehicles in northeast Alabama, said Marshall County Coroner Cody Nugent. Searchers found the bodies of a boyfriend and girlfriend, both 23, inside a car that was swept away by a swollen stream in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, said Shelby County Coroner Lina Evans.

“Normally it’s just a trickle. It was raging,” she said. Evans identified the victims as Hoover residents Latin Marie Hill and Myles Jared Butler.

The deluge produced wild scenes on social media: floodwaters flowing between Christmas trees inside a Lowe’s store in Hoover, refrigerator bins full of brown water in a home and dozens of cars with their headlights submerged. Rescue crews helped motorists escape as low visibility and standing water made travel life-threatening in some areas.

'They can occur in all 50 states':Here's what you need to know about flash floods

Some of the worst flooding happened in Pelham, outside Birmingham, where 82 people were rescued from homes and more than 15 were pulled from vehicles after creeks and streams overflowed, the Pelham Fire Department said early Thursday. More than 100 rescuers with 16 boats were involved, the statement said.

“Water was coming in the car so fast I had to bail out the window,” said Jill Caskey, who watched Thursday morning as a tow truck hauled away her sport utility vehicle from a low-lying parking lot in Pelham. The car stalled as she tried to navigate floodwaters during the deluge.

A police officer helped her to high ground, and Caskey’s husband picked her up on a roadside. But it took them three hours to travel a few miles home because of flooded roads.

Caskey has heard the weather safety mantra of “turn around, don’t drown,” but said “it really happened so fast I didn’t have time to think about it.”

The Alabama deluge came about seven weeks after flooding killed more than a dozen people in Tennessee. Such floods may be more common in the future because of global warming, scientists say.

Federal research has found that man-made climate change doubles the chances of the types of heavy rains that swamped Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with 26 inches of rain in 2016, killing a dozen people and damaging 150,000 homes.

In south Alabama near the Florida line, water covered streets in the flood-prone Escambia County towns of Brewton and East Brewton, inundating a shopping center and sending as much as 3 feet of water into the Piggly Wiggly. Two schools had to cancel classes, said Escambia Sheriff Heath Jackson.

To the south, in Baldwin County, as much as 250,000 gallons of waste water overflowed from sewage systems along Mobile Bay, officials said.

The Alabama deluge comes about seven weeks after flooding killed more than a dozen people in Tennessee. These types of floods may be more common in the future because of global warming, scientists say.

Federal research has found that man-made climate change doubles the chances of the types of heavy rains that swamped Baton Rouge, Louisiana with 26 inches of rain in 2016, killing a dozen people and damaging 150,000 homes.

In south Alabama near the Florida line, water covered streets in the flood-prone Escambia County towns of Brewton and East Brewton, inundating a shopping center and sending as much as 3 feet of water into the community’s main grocery store, Piggly Wiggly. Two schools had to cancel classes, said Escambia Sheriff Heath Jackson.

“We’re hoping that the rain is going to stop so we can get some of this water ... out of here,” Jackson told WKRG-TV.

To the south, in Baldwin County, as much as 250,000 gallons of waste water overflowed from sewage systems along Mobile Bay, officials said.

Flash flooding:Videos show historic flooding in New York after Ida blasts the Northeast

In Georgia, the National Weather Service said as many as 6 inches of rain fell in a crescent-shaped area from Columbus to Macon and then northeast toward Athens, Gainesville and South Carolina.

On Wednesday, news outlets reported rising waters forced people to evacuate from a motel in Macon, Georgia, after ground floor rooms flooded. In adjoining Jones County, schools canceled classes Thursday as floodwaters submerged some roads. Rising waters on the Ocmulgee River led Jones County deputies to rescue people trapped in their home Wednesday.

Flood warnings were posted along rivers in six states, and gates were opened at the dam on Lake Sinclair in central Georgia to reduce water levels.

Rains should end by late Thursday in Alabama as storms move eastward. Flash flood warnings were in effect through Friday along the weather front, stretching from the Florida Panhandle through northern Georgia and mountainous regions of easter Tennessee and the western Carolinas.

Back in Pelham, Michael Halbert waded through his neighborhood to a townhome filled with more than 40 inches of water. He tried to get items off the floor, but still lost some of his belongings, and his Jeep was filled with water outside.

“Flood insurance is going to have fun,” he said.

Associated Press reporter Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia, contributed to this report.