Event narrative (NOAA)
Widespread minor street flooding began, and eventually escalated into areal and river flooding. The South Chickamauga Creek exceeded its banks and flooded surrounding areas of Chattanooga and East Ridge. The West Chickamauga Creek also contributed to flooding along the South Chickamauga, and areas of East Ridge. The South Chickamauga stage reached 28.54', which is the second highest recorded stage on that river. Numerous businesses and roads were affected by the high waters, with several drivers having to be rescued after driving into flooded streets. Creeks flowing off the Cumberland Plateau in northern Hamilton County also caused flooding in the Soddy Daisy areas, closing roads. One fatality occurred on 9/20/2009, when a 46 year old man, on a wager, tried to swim across a drainage ditch
Other notable flood events in Tennessee
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.