The Latest: Tennessee flash floods destroy homes

NASHVILLE – The Latest on flash flooding in Tennessee and Kentucky (all times local):

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3:45 p.m.

Tennessee emergency officials say flash flooding overnight heavily damaged homes in two counties. Straight-line winds also downed trees and caused sporadic power outages in Nashville and a wide swath of northern and Middle Tennessee into parts of southwestern Kentucky.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency Thursday. About 20 homes were destroyed in Stewart County, along with a church and day care. Sumner County reports 30 homes damaged and four bridges with major damage.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of Middle Tennessee through 10 p.m. as a second storm system comes through the area.

In Kentucky, storms downed power lines and damaged buildings in the Paducah area. And a small tornado hit nearby Metropolis, Illinois, but no life-threatening injuries were reported.

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9:00 a.m.

Officials have declared a state of emergency in Tennessee after heavy rains caused flooding in several areas overnight and more rain is forecast.

Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spokesman Dean Flener said on Thursday that crews were performing swift-water rescues in Stewart County. He said several other counties have reported high water over roads and trees down from storms.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for areas of Middle Tennessee through Thursday afternoon. The weather service said as much as 6 inches of rain fell overnight, which led to widespread flooding in Nashville and surrounding areas.

Flener said travel could be precarious and warned that motorists should not try to cross water over roadways.