Stewart County, Tennessee

Mr. Ritenour and Mrs. Linda Ritenour became surrounded by high water while Mr. Ritenour was driving a Chevrolet Suburban across a low bridge on their property, which is approximately two miles west of State Route 49 between Tennessee Ridge and Dover, along Upper Alsup Road. A neighbor saw the couple's predicament and alerted another neighbor, Steve Zywicki, who rushed to the scene to help. Mr. Ritenour tried to throw a rope to his neighbor, who could not quite reach it and was swept away. Mr. and Mrs. Ritenour, along with the Suburban, were swept away also. The Suburban was carried at least one half mile downstream from the low bridge. Mr. Ritenour survived after he managed to reach safety on one of the banks of the roaring creek. Both Linda Ritenour and Steve Zywicki drowned as a result of the roaring creek waters. Linda Ritenour's body was recovered approximately a half-mile downstream and Steve Zywicki body was recovered about 250 yards from the low bridge.

Repeated development of thunderstorms across Stewart County resulted in 5 to 7 inches of rain falling during the evening hours on April 17. Disastrous flash flooding resulted from the heavy rainfall, with numerous roadways washed out or underwater, dozens of homes flooded, and five water rescues of people in vehicles. The worst flooding occurred in the Indian Mound and Carlisle communities, where 20 people were trapped by flood waters. One man suffered minor injuries after driving off a washed out section of Leatherwood Road, with his car falling ten feet down into a ravine. Other flooded and washed out roadways across Stewart County included Taylor's Chapel Road, Rorie Hollow, North Cross Creek Road, Big Rock Road, Joiner Hollow Road, Robertson Hill Road, Wildlife Road, Norris Handcock Road, Centerpoint Road, Indian Mound Road, and Highway 49. In total, 25 homes were reported destroyed, 25 homes suffered major damage, and 20 homes had minor damage.

Historic flash flooding affected much of Stewart County, especially areas northeast of Dover. Dozens of homes, businesses, vehicles and roads were damaged or destroyed by flooding across Stewart County, mainly in the Big Rock and Bumpus Mills communities which were devastated by the flooding. Several water rescues were also conducted for people trapped in flooded homes and vehicles. TEMA reported 10 homes were destroyed, 7 homes had major damage, 10 mobile homes were destroyed, Big Rock Baptist Church was destroyed, Big Rock Church of Christ and Dyers Creek Church of God had major damage, 1 park had major damage, The Homestead Child Day Care Center on Robertson Hill Road was destroyed, and a Subway restaurant on Highway 79 at Joiner Hollow Road had major damage. Some of the roads that were flooded and closed included Highway 120 in Bumpus Mills, and Joiner Hollow Road, Earl Coppage Road, Mildred George Road, and Big Rock Road in Big Rock which were all washed out. No injuries or fatalities were reported.