Tennessee flood toll drops to 7

Authorities in Tennessee on Monday confirmed three more deaths related to the floods that inundated parts of the state over the weekend, bringing the total to at least seven.

Five people have died in Davidson County, home of Nashville, and there has been one death in Cheatham and Hawkins counties, according to the state health department.

More than 7 inches of rain fell in Nashville from Saturday to Sunday, and some areas exceeded 8 inches, the National Weather Service said.

Damage assessments continued on Monday after widespread flooding affected homes and businesses and chopped down trees and power lines, emergency officials said.

Tennessee braces for more rain. Rivers and streams are expected to be in the flood stage for days, and an additional 1 to 2 inch is forecast for the Nashville area this week, according to the weather service.

The rain could cause localized flooding, but the Nashville Weather Service office said it should not affect the river level too much.

Of the three newly reported deaths, at least two involved vehicles.

A man apparently drowned in his truck after going around barricades in Cheatham County on Sunday evening, said Edwin Hogan, the county fire chief and director of emergency management. Cheatham County is west of Nashville.

In Hawkins County, northeast, a 61-year-old woman died after her Nissan Sentra left the roadway on Sunday afternoon and was washed away, according to a report from Highway Patrol.