Chattanooga, Tennessee – A catastrophic flood struck the city on August 12, 2025, after 6.42 inches of rain fell in a single day, marking the second wettest day since 1879.

The flooding, filmed by Wendy King, showed water reaching house windows and submerging streets. The footage revealed hundreds of inundated cars and homes as emergency crews battled to reach trapped residents.

At least four people were killed. A family of three died when a tree collapsed onto their home, and another victim was swept away by the raging waters.

Major highways, including Interstate 24, were shut down. Local authorities declared a state of emergency, and multiple rescues were carried out across the city.

Wendy King described the unprecedented rainfall: “Seven inches of rain within two hours… largest single day record since 1879.”

Officials and residents have linked the disaster to a worrying rise in extreme weather events, renewing calls for urgent action on climate change and stronger infrastructure protections.

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