'We cannot breathe': As Tennessee flooded, panicked 911 calls poured in from trapped residents

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Humphreys County 911 Center in Tennessee fielded hundreds of calls as deadly floodwaters quickly rose in the state Saturday morning, according to center director Bobby Brown.

The center released 10 recordings of calls received in the chaos after 17 inches of water came down that day, sparking catastrophic flash floods across the county. 

"We are going under," one caller said, with background noise that sounded like moving water. "We cannot breathe.... Hurry! Please!”

Dispatchers assured callers they were doing everything they could to get to those in danger. One dispatcher told a caller they had over 20 water rescue calls active at once. 

"I’m trying the best I can," another dispatcher said. 

A person calls 911 after their mother was trapped in her home during deadly floods

A person called 911 to tell dispatch that their mother was trapped in her home during the deadly floods in Waverly, Tennessee on August 21.

Nashville Tennessean

Some called to report they were trapped in their attics or treading water. One caller repeated "please help!" while a dispatcher tried to get an address.

“I need help!" the caller cried. "I can’t swim, and the water’s so high."

Others called multiple times, with increasing urgency, reporting how quickly the water was rising. Some reported neighbors or family members trapped in their homes. 

911 call was placed as flood waters rose in Waverly, Tennessee

Warning: This video contains disturbing audio. A 911 call was placed as flood waters rose in Waverly, Tennessee on August 21.

Nashville Tennessean

At one point, the 911 center was knocked offline for 30-40 minutes when it lost phone and internet service Saturday, Brown said. After several workarounds and temporary fixes, 911 service was restored early Monday morning. The center itself was not damaged in the flooding. 

At least 18 people are confirmed dead after the storm roared through the town of Waverly and Humphreys County on Saturday. The rural county is home to about 20,000 people and is about 70 miles west of Nashville.

Waverly Department of Public Safety Chief Grant Gillespie revised the number of dead to 18 dead and 3 missing Tuesday afternoon, down from 21 dead reported earlier in the day.

The dead included twin babies wrenched from their father’s arms, according to surviving family members and a foreman at country music star Loretta Lynn’s ranch. 

Find reporter Rachel Wegner on Twitter @rachelannwegner.