Storm kills at least 15 people in Southeast

A deadly storm has triggered floods in several southeast states, leaving at least 15 people dead as it moves toward Georgia. The storm flooded Tennessee on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and forcing the evacuation of thousands others . Authorities said about 20 inches of rain was dumped on the state, turning streets into virtual seas.

In Mississippi, two tornadoes killed three people Sunday, and a fourth person died in a rain-related traffic accident.

Parts of Tennessee have been drenched with 20 inches of rain.

Nashville officials were keeping an eye on the Cumberland River, which runs through the city and was expected to crest at around 51 feet.

“All of our major creeks and the Cumberland River are near flood level, if not at flood level,” Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said at a news conference Sunday. “The ground is entirely saturated, and the rain continues to fall. There’s nowhere for the water to go.”

Dean said that more rain has fallen in Nashville in the last 24 hours than has ever been recorded in the city.

“We are still at this point in rescue stage and will be until the water begins to subside,” he said.

The National Weather Service advised that major flooding was expected to continue along the river Monday, followed by a gradual decrease in water levels. The river was expected to fall below flood stage late Tuesday night.

The forecast called for more rain through the day Sunday, which could stymie rescuers trying to reach all of the far-flung areas that have been affected.