By Steven Symes 
Flooding in Chattanooga, Tennessee made a mess of roads, flooding countless cars and causing widespread destruction. Even worse, at the time this article was written, the death toll was at four individuals, a number which likely will increase.
Learn how to survive a submerged car.
With more rain forecasted for the area by the National Weather Service, the flooding is expected to worsen before it gets better. That has officials pleading with people to stay home instead of trying to traverse flooded roads.
Chattanooga Tennessee flooding today 😳 pic.twitter.com/wi8ZtuBnKV
— Tristyn C✨️ (@Tristan29209585) August 13, 2025
Numerous streets and neighborhoods are flooded, with cars abandoned as drivers who thought they could make it were forced to leave their rides.
Even more shocking, sections of Interstate 24 by the Georgia border have become impassible, thanks to high waters and stalled out cars.
This is I-24 in Chattanooga, right near the Georgia border. There has been months and months of construction up and down this stretch and earth moved and taken away. Now we get this flooding. This is disastrous. These people are risking their lives. pic.twitter.com/i68IZv4i6F
— JJBOOM (@JordyHalo80) August 13, 2025
Footage taken by a bystander and shared on social media site X shows a man breaking the back window on an SUV to rescue a woman trapped inside. The water comes up to the man’s neck as the vehicle floats helplessly in the floodwaters.
A man breaks out the back window of a vehicle to save a woman from flood waters in Chattanooga, TN. #tnwx
— Scott (@RandomHeroWX) August 13, 2025
🎥: Sofo Jacob pic.twitter.com/wEQUs4xwsq
One of the deceased was found in floodwaters as rescuers searched for someone else who was swept away, reports Chattanooga Times Free Press. The other three deaths were from a family who were in their car when a tree fell on it.
The best way to not get into a bad situation when a road is flooded is to not drive down it. Many times, drivers believe the water they’re headed towards is shallower than it really is, only realizing once they’re literally in too deep that they’re in trouble.
I lived in Chattanooga TN for years…
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) August 13, 2025
The images coming out of there from the flash flooding yesterday are truly unbelievable.
Multiple people trapped in their homes or cars were rescued.
How many of these major floods are we going to have this year?!
WHAT IS GOING ON?!!! pic.twitter.com/lzBixL6KGl
Everyone should have a glass break in their car, just in case they end up in a situation where they need to escape through a window quickly. Most vehicles will float for a few minutes before they start to sink, and that’s when you want to get out.
Image via X
Mike Johnson