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Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Clarksville's proposed budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 could address flooding concerns
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In a newly-proposed budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year in Clarksville, stormwater drainage has been listed as a top priority — and there is a property tax rate increase. Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts sent a budget memorandum to the City Council, announcing that the proposal targets several key issues, like recruitment and retention of city employees and neighborhood flooding. The budget proposes a property tax increase of 15 cents to $1.03 per $100 assessed value, citing growth, inflation and a need to expand services as driving the increase. Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More The more than $170 million budget also includes a 'Restoring Clarksville' Initiative, which is aimed at cleaning abandoned properties and improving the overall appearance of Clarksville's neighborhoods. A special revenue fund has also been proposed, which would allow fines and funds collected from liens placed on neglected properties by the Building and Codes Department to flow back to the Department to fund the initiative. Additionally, the proposed budget includes a 2.5% general wage increase for all eligible employees as a centerpiece of our budget proposal. 'I am proud of how our employees in every City department work together, to respond to our citizens' everyday needs — especially how they perform in a crisis or extreme challenge,' Pitts said. 'They give us much to be proud of, and are to be commended for their efforts.' READ MORE | Latest headlines from Clarksville and Montgomery County Several changes to address stormwater damage have been proposed, including several key changes like revising building standards to reflect more serious rainfalls. If necessary, that could mean changes to Building Codes. Aside from buildings, the Clarksville Street Department is working with a consulting engineering firm to address three flood-prone areas of the city. City leaders don't have the final price tag for the flood-prone areas just yet; they're prepared to go back to City Council and change the financial plan to fit the needs of Clarksville neighborhoods. The budget memo said that capital projects 'will be throttled back,' with a focus on Transportation 2020+ projects and the first phase of the Rossview Athletic Complex. The proposed budget said that necessary repairs would be made to buildings, but no new projects would be launched 'until the national and state economies settle.' Do you have news happening in your neighborhood? Let us know by sending an email to neighborhoodnews@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Clarksville pushes National Flood Insurance Program awareness amid rising rainfall totals
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 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 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 FPAdmin@ 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 (bccommercial@ 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 kanderson@ or on X at kenyaanderson32. Sign up for the Leaf-Chronicle to support local journalism at This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: What Clarksville should know about National Flood Insurance Program
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Clarksville hit with 10 inches of rain as rivers rose and residents evacuate their homes
As tornado threats dropped by Friday, flooding and rain continued in Clarksville over the weekend, causing neighborhoods to flood, 30 roads to close, river levels to rise and schools to be closed. The National Weather Service reported that Clarksville received 10 inches of rain by Monday. According to school officials, an estimated 4,500 or more residents may not be able to access their neighborhoods or homes, leading to school closures. Both the Cumberland and Red Rivers began to crest over the weekend though began to recede by Monday morning. The National Weather Service canceled the River Flood Warnings. The Cumberland River, which reaches flood stages at 46 feet, peaked at 50.54 feet at 7 p.m. Sunday. By 7 a.m. Monday, the river had dropped to 49.61 feet and is continuing to fall, moving toward safer levels. The Red River, with a flood stage of 30 feet, crested at 39.30 feet at 6 p.m. Sunday. As of 7:30 a.m. Monday, it had slowly begun to recede, with levels at 37.4 feet. High rainfall levels led to evacuations in some areas, including the Farmington neighborhood early Sunday afternoon and Woodstock neighborhood overnight, carried out by Clarksville Fire Rescue. "Our city lies near the geographical center of a broad region of the nation that has been besieged by flooding rains and dangerous storms since Wednesday night," said Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts in a statement Saturday. "We are asking residents in the Clarksville area who live in historically flood-prone, or low-lying areas to revisit their household emergency plans, and be prepared to possibly relocate, if necessary." Sunday afternoon, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools announced they would be closed on Monday, with over 30 roads closed throughout the county. "By the time floodwaters crest this evening, an estimated 4,500 or more residents may not be able to access their neighborhoods or homes, and emergency crews are currently evacuating dozens of residents," the district said in its announcement on Facebook. "Please stay tuned to local news and follow the guidance of emergency personnel." Resources for flood victims are available by the United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region and Red Cross. To request assistance with United Way, you can fill out a digital form and a referral will be made within 48 to 96 hours. The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department's Crow Recreation Center, 211 Richview Road. Those needing financial assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to connect with a case worker. This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Flood emergency in Clarksville: Rivers crest, evacuations ordered
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dozens of streets experience flooding in Clarksville after heavy rainfall
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Dozens of streets in Clarksville flooded Saturday because of heavy rain. As a result, plenty of those roads were blocked off to any traffic. 'I just hope that people take precaution and be safe and try to warn others, especially at nighttime, so they won't be able to drive in it and cause problems,' said Henry Hopson, who lives in Clarksville. According to Clarksville officials, at least two cars were submerged in water: one on Meadowbrook and one on Saratoga Drive between Bunker Hill and Shanee Terrace. Clarksville officials address 'alarming scenes of flash flooding' 'With all of the rain we've had in recent weeks, we were bracing for a significant flash flooding event. Today, unfortunately, it happened, bringing challenges throughout our City, and our first priority is helping our residents who are dealing with the brunt of it,' Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts said in a statement addressing flash flooding concerns late Saturday afternoon. Officials said more flash flooding could occur overnight because the soil is already saturated by previous rainfall over the last few days. According to social media posts from Clarksville's government and law enforcement, the following streets experienced closures on Saturday: Ashbury Road Alfred Thun Drive Cumberland Drive at Church Street Elberta Drive Freestone Drive Meadowbrook Lane Saratoga Drive Old Russellville Pike and Idaho Springs Road Fantasy Lane Trenton Road near Hayes Street Glenhurst Way Pea Ridge Road at 101st Airborne Division Parkway Hayes Street and Pea Ridge Road Liberty Park Way Cumberland Drive and Church Street Jack Miller Boulevard Madison Street at Porters Bluff and Golf Club Lane Crossland Avenue at Richardson Street Tylertown Road and Oakland Road Old Dunbar Cave Road Cedar Street and Providence Boulevard Hallbrook Drive and Rebecca Lane Tylertown Road and Roscommon Way Old Russellville Pike from Dunbar Cave Road to Cheshire Road Oak Street at D Street Spees Drive betweeen Jacquie Drive and Bridgette Drive Bunker Hill Road at Lexington Drive Woodbridge Drive at Millstone Circle Tobacco Road Dunbar Cave Road from Old Dunbar Cave Road to Idlewood Drive Front Street Idaho Springs Road from Front Street to Dunbar Cave Road Dunbar Dell Road Parts of Madison Street near Porters Bluff and Hillcrest Drive Army Corps of Engineers moves to 24/7 operations due to increasing flood risks for Cumberland River Basin News 2 has found and received a number of pictures showing the water levels in Clarksville over the course of the day: Motorists in Clarksville are urged to slow down, use caution, and turn around if you encounter flooded roads. Never try to cross large areas of standing water because it may be deeper or more dangerous than it appears. Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Clarksville officials address ‘alarming scenes of flash flooding'
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — After receiving several inches of rain Saturday, Clarksville's government released a statement discussing flash floods in the city and the surrounding areas. According to officials, between midnight and noon on Saturday, Feb. 15, the official National Weather Service reporting station at Clarksville Regional Airport at Outlaw Field measured a total of close to 4 inches of rainfall. Severe storms likely Saturday night and flooding continues In addition, the city said it expects another 1 to 2 inches by 8 p.m. before the flooding rains diminish late Saturday. Officials said all of that rain has fallen on soils that were already excessively saturated by rainfall from the past few days, resulting in 'alarming scenes of flash flooding on this Saturday, throughout Clarksville and surrounding areas.' 'With all of the rain we've had in recent weeks, we were bracing for a significant flash flooding event. Today, unfortunately, it happened, bringing challenges throughout our City, and our first priority is helping our residents who are dealing with the brunt of it,' said Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts. PHOTOS: Floods impacting roads across Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky 'Monitoring weather forecasts closely, our Street Department got ahead of the issue throughout the week, placing about 1,000 sandbags plus barricades in areas where we have historically seen flooding. Today, the Street Department, Police Department and Fire Rescue Department have been out en masse working together to respond as needed to keep people and structures as safe as possible,' Pitts explained. As the rains end late Saturday night, Clarksville said additional attention will be shifted to a new River Flood Warning issued earlier in the afternoon for the Cumberland River, where at least moderate flooding is forecasted between 10 p.m. on Saturday and 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The Cumberland — which has a flood stage of 46 feet — is reportedly expected to crest at 52 feet in Clarksville early Monday, Feb. 17. 'We continue to monitor flood conditions in the neighborhoods of our City, as well as river stages of the Cumberland and Red rivers, and will respond to our residents swiftly, as needed,' the mayor added. FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather News 2 has found and received a number of pictures showing the water levels in Clarksville and Montgomery County: Clarksville officials said they will continue to keep all residents updated. Don't forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. 📲 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.📧 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.💻 for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
