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A poignant video posted to Facebook captured the terrifying moments a woman filmed as floodwaters rolled past her home, seconds before she was swept away herself.
The 70-second clip shows Linda Almond, 55, trapped in her home in Waverly on Saturday as a torrent of murky brown water, several feet deep and carrying debris, rushes outside.
“We’re inundated right now. Really scary, ”we hear Almond say. “Oh my God, oh my God!”
Another voice, believed to be that of his son Tommy, 37, says he thinks something has hit the side of the house. Moments later, Almond’s daughter Victoria told the Washington Post that the house “was lifted off its foundations” and the two were washed away in the water.
Victoria Almond said her brother and mother clung to a utility pole but let go when they saw a house floating towards them. When her brother emerged after being briefly pulled underwater, she said, their mother was gone.
When she spoke to her brother on Saturday night, “I could hear in his voice, the way he described him and his tone of voice” that her mother was dead, said Victoria Almond, who lives 75 km away. his brother’s house.
“I already knew it. It wasn’t confirmed, but I already knew it.
She added: “My brother went down for about 45 seconds under the water and when he got back up he couldn’t find mom. That’s when they let go. It was the last time he had seen her.
The storm brought 17 inches of rain in just three hours. Many scientists believe severe weather events such as the Tennessee floods, wildfires in the western states, and stronger and more frequent hurricanes in the southern and eastern United States are linked to the man-made climate crisis.
Linda Almond is one of 22 known victims of the floods that swept through rural Tennessee, destroying buildings and destroying communities. Dozens are still missing.
Officials said on Tuesday that around 120 homes had been washed away by foundations, destroyed or simply “disappeared.” The extent of the damage became clearer as rescue teams continued their search.
Displaced residents have sought refuge with relatives, local churches and housing provided by the American Red Cross. Joe Biden declared a major disaster and ordered federal aid on Monday.
Local authorities said those killed included babies and the elderly. Family members told reporters seven-month-old twins died after being swept from their parents’ arms.
Victoria Almond told the Post that her mother, who is from South Florida, stayed with her brother 60 miles west of Nashville to save money after an expensive summer trip with friends. Linda Almond suffered from back problems but “was honestly happier than I had ever seen her,” her daughter told The Post.
Victoria Almond said she watched her mother’s video on Saturday afternoon. It was posted at 10:13 a.m.
“That’s when the real worry struck,” she said.
She said she then spoke with an aunt, who spoke with her brother.
“She was crying and said mom and Tommy were in danger and got caught in the flood,” Victoria Almond said.
Tommy Almond survived by climbing onto the roof of a crumbling building until the floodwaters receded.
“He really looks like he’s in shock,” his sister said. Her mother’s body was found on Sunday.
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