WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Heavy rains wreak havoc in Livingston

Heavy rains wreak havoc in Livingston

LIVINGSTON, Tenn. - Heavy storms overnight Wednesday in Overton County caused flash flooding in the town of Livingston.

Homes filled with water, roads washed away and creek beds swelled.

In Lana Stockton's home, flood waters picked up kitchen chairs, dirtied the floors and even tipped over a large freezer.

The small creek near the family's home swelled, creating a huge hole in the front lawn.

The flood waters also trapped their horse inside the barn.

"We had to swim [the horse] out and [we were] afraid he was going to drown," Stockton told News 2.  "It was very scary.  I'm sure [there are] lots of people in the same shape as I am and we're blessed that nobody died."

Two people were treated at a local hospital for hypothermia when their car was swept away in the flood waters.

The victims managed to take refuge in a tree until a neighbor's son heard their cries for help three hours later.

"They were already in the water, they were in a tree hollering for help," recalled Lucille Ferrills.  "That's what we heard, they run in and call 911 and they came down to rescue them."

Fire destroyed nearby Norris Body Shop and the six cars that were inside.

Authorities believe lightning struck the building, which sparked the blaze.

Thousands of dollars worth of tools were also lost in the fire.

At the height of the storm, when employees at the 911 center were flooded with calls, the building was struck by lightning.

Employees felt the shock.

"One sustained an injury to her toenail, the lightning went in through the headset and out through her toe," Chris Masiongale, the center's director, told News 2.

Operators said Thursday they are working out of a temporary facility while technicians work to get things back to normal.