CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Montgomery County residents are still in the recovery process after severe weather pummeled the region over the course of several days.
“I don’t think it’s fully hit me that I’m standing in water again,” said Candace Payne, who lives on Elberta Drive in Clarksville.
Payne said this is the third major flood she’s experienced in her current home in less than a year. Her basement was flooded in February 2025 and May 2024 when heavy rainfall flooded the neighborhood.
According to Payne, she was planning to move back into her house on Elberta Drive in a couple of weeks after living in temporary housing since February, but now that won’t be happening.
“We just need the local officials to do something. I didn’t know that this house was flood prone. If I had known that, I would have never bought this house, I wouldn’t have invested my life into it, I wouldn’t have lost so much, but now I’m stuck in a house that I can’t get rid of that won’t stop flooding,” Payne told News 2.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced on Sunday, April 6 that President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas. In a news release, FEMA urged residents to “listen to local officials as severe weather and flooding risk continues.”
As to how Payne is managing, she shared an emotional plea with News 2: "Buy me out! Buy this house, knock it down, please! Because if it is not knocked down, this is going to keep happening, there’s going to be another Candace Payne, and there should not be. Nobody should have to be rescued from the comforts of their home."
Payne told News 2 she was rescued from her home during the February floods.
News 2 also spoke with Clarksville resident Achilles Solomos, who was gathering sandbags at Kirkwood High School.
“All of the overdevelopment basically caused everything to go in reverse into our backyard, into the farm field behind us, causing so much damage. I have $1,000 in damage in my home and backyards, and nobody is taking accountability,” he said.
This weekend, News 2 saw military trucks from the 101st Airborne Division driving by the Reserve at Kirkwood, assisting with the emergency response.
Anyone in low-lying areas of Montgomery County was urged to seek shelter before nightfall in case of more flash floods. According to officials, Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department’s Crow Recreation Center at 211 Richview Road.
Yaipak has also set up an evacuation center at its warehouse at 1255 Paradise Hill, in collaboration with Red Cross. To get in touch with Yaipak, call 615-559-8272.
Those impacted by flooding are asked to follow this link and fill out the digital form to request assistance. If you’re not sure about something, contact United Way of the Greater Clarksville Region, Inc. at 931-647-4291 for support. Anyone who needs financial assistance can call 1-800-RED-CROSS to connect with a case worker.
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.
