Tennessee on the recovery path

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP):

Three couples who had been wedded for decades and were enjoying their retirements died together in the deadly floods that ravaged Tennessee.

The state's 20th death from weekend storms was reported yesterday.

Among the victims were a preacher's wife who had been cleaning up damage at her church, a school crossing guard swept from the clutch of neighbours trying to pull him from swirling waters, and a father trying to save a daughter who also perished.

As those who died are being laid to rest this week, many are headed back to work in Nashville, the city hit hardest by the storm. Most of the city has had power restored, and cleaning crews were hauling away water-stained furniture and debris from the streets.

Mayor Karl Dean said yesterday that the Cumberland River has dipped below flood stage a day earlier than expected, going down to 39.5 feet. But recovery could take weeks, especially in the city's iconic country music and tourism industry. Damages are estimated at more than $1 billion. And the worst may not be over for the region: rural western Kentucky was bracing for what could be the worst flooding there in 200 years.

fast-moving waters

Another 10 people were killed in storms in Kentucky and Mississippi. Authorities are searching for at least four more people missing in Tennessee and Kentucky and feared killed in the storms.

Families of the victims say the fast-moving waters flooded homes and roads so quickly that, in many cases, there was no time to prepare or escape. Others simply underestimated the danger.