Flash Flood — Tuscaloosa, Alabama

2021-06-19 · near Coker, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Event narrative

Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Depression Claudette produced widespread flooding across Tuscaloosa County. Many homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Flooding destroyed 5 homes and severely damaged 38 in Northport and Tuscaloosa. One-hundred people were displaced when the Willowbrook Trailer Park in Northport was severely flooded. Residential and infrastructure damage between the two cities reached $3.35 million.

Wider weather episode

Heavy rainfall and strong winds impacted much of Central Alabama June 19-20 as the Tropical Depression Claudette moved across the area. Significant flooding occurred along the I-20 corridor where storm total amounts were in the 3-6 inch range, with isolated amounts near 8 inches. Near Tuscaloosa, a private dam failed and the subsequent flooding washed out a water and sewer main at Nucor Corporation's steel plant. This in turn damaged the city's sewage system, prompting officials to issue water restrictions for 100,000 people. Flooding destroyed five homes and severely damaged thirty-eight in Northport and Tuscaloosa. Residential and infrastructure damage between the two cities reached $3.35 million. Two fatalities occurred in Tuscaloosa County when a large tree fell on a mobile home.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.2410, -87.6890)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 970467. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.