Clarksville pushes National Flood Insurance Program awareness amid rising rainfall totals

Yahoo

10-04-2025

While the severe thunderstorm and tornado threats from last week are in the past, many Clarksville-Montgomery County residents are left dealing with the aftermath of the downpour.
According to the National Weather Service, Clarksville got 10 inches of rain between April 2 and 6.
As a result, a State of Emergency was issued for Clarksville-Montgomery County on Monday.
"A State of Emergency allows the city and county agencies to take measures to protect citizens and expedite assistance, including mobilizing resources and coordinating responses. A countywide emergency operations plan has been activated to coordinate and facilitate effective response and recovery actions, and government teams from city and county agencies are working with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) regional coordinators to evaluate, assess, and respond to local flooding in Clarksville-Montgomery County," a previous joint statement from the city and county said.
An initial assessment confirmed over 120 residential properties and 14 commercial properties were impacted, with a third of those properties reporting major damage.
In a statement to The Leaf-Chronicle, City Mayor Joe Pitts said that the rain Clarksville has received is totaling almost 30 inches for the calendar year, putting the community at a 245% of normal rainfall for the year.
"Having noted the pertinent weather data, we are also certainly aware of repeated problem areas for flooding in our city, and, we have been having lengthy, internal discussions across all city departments, about these problem spots since even before the February 15, 2025, flood event occurred," Pitts said.
Pitts said the City is in the process of narrowing down options on how to deal with flooding in these areas and provide long-term relief for residents.
As the city works on a comprehensive public discussion for residents, they provided some answers to frequently asked questions about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Q: Am I eligible to buy flood insurance?A: YES. All Clarksville property owners are eligible to purchase flood insurance through the NFIP.
Q: What is the NFIP?A: The NFIP is the National Flood Insurance Program. This federally subsidized program provides flood insurance to property owners in participating NFIP communities. Clarksville is included in the program.
Q: My insurance company that I have homeowners insurance with says they cannot sell me flood insurance. So, I can't get it right?
A: All Clarksville property owners are eligible to purchase NFIP flood insurance. There are currently 22 NFIP insurance providers in the State of Tennessee. Please visit this link for a list of providers.
Q: How do I begin the process of buying NFIP flood insurance?
A: Visit floodsmart.gov to start the process of getting a quote to purchase flood insurance.
Q: I don't live inside of a flood plain, so I shouldn't need NFIP insurance right?
A: While NFIP flood insurance may be required by lenders for properties within identified flood plains, all property owners in Clarksville are eligible to purchase flood insurance if they choose to. A reduced risk is still a risk. For additional information in a concise presentation from the State NFIP, please see click here.
Q: Where can I find additional information about NFIP?
A: You can visit floodsmart.gov for additional information and to obtain a quote. You can also use this PDF for a brief overview of the program. The local Floodplain Administrator can be reached at [e-mail] or the State of Tennessee Middle Region NFIP Specialist, Graham Christophel, can be reached at 629-250-8194.
Q: How do I know if my property is near a designated flood area?
A: If you are working with a realtor, they can assist you in identifying your home within the current mapping. You can also contact Clarksville Building and Codes Department ([e-mail]) and they can assist you in researching your subdivision's plat. You can also type your address into FEMA Flood Map Service Center | Search By Address.
Q: Are there other steps property owners can take to mitigate flooding hazards?
A: Yes, property owners can keep private property clear of downed limbs. The City offers the Spring Clean-Up program to assist property owners in picking up these limbs. For more information, visit the City's website.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at Clarksville Parks and Recreation Crow Center, 211 Richview Road. Since then, it has combined with Yaipak, a nonprofit organization in Clarksville, and is assisting in disaster relief locally.
The organization asks families displaced by flooding to check in with Yaipak at 1255 Paradise Hill Road with the American Red Cross.
Yaipak is providing clean, dry clothes for families evacuated in a rush.
The nonprofit is collecting donations as part of Project Rebuild Hope and is seeking masks, bottled water, tarps, cleaning supplies, shovels, rakes, coolers, totes, pillows and air mattresses and mold killer.
Donations can be dropped off at Yaipak's Paradise Hill Road location.
Additional drop-off locations include Blue Cord Realty and Property Management at 1191 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Clarksville Urban Ministries at 217 South 3rd St. and Tennessee's Elite, 2116 Trenton Road.
The United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region, in collaboration with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Long-Term Recovery group, has created a centralized location to request aid.
You can visit the Long-Term Recovery's website or kiosk and fill out the digital form. A referral will be made to one of the United Way's partner agencies within 48-96 hours. Please provide an email as resources will be provided as they become available.
Those needing financial assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to connect with a case worker.
Kenya Anderson is a reporter for The Leaf-Chronicle. She can be contacted at [e-mail] or on X at kenyaanderson32. Sign up for the Leaf-Chronicle to support local journalism at www.theleafchronicle.com.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: What Clarksville should know about National Flood Insurance Program