The city of Chattanooga has released a summary of agency responses to the recent flash flooding, highlighting the work of first responders and city crews who worked through the night to protect lives and property.
The Chattanooga Fire Department deployed more than 100 firefighters, answering over 50 emergency calls. The department’s swiftwater rescue team pulled 35 people from dangerous situations, while crews also assisted police and partner agencies with damage assessment, evacuations and road closures.
The Chattanooga Police Department fielded 427 calls for service, including 114 flooding reports, 80 hazard checks, 33 car accidents, 11 water emergencies and 10 reports of downed wires.
Public Works sent 15 crews to clean storm basins and three forestry crews to clear downed trees. Teams worked until 1 a.m. and were back out by 7 a.m., also providing barricades and vehicles to support road closures.
Community Development kept the Chris Ramsey Community Center open overnight to shelter more than 20 evacuees and staged space there for fire crews. Staff also prepared a clothing pantry for survivors at the John A. Patten Center.
Wastewater Department crews worked overnight to keep facilities running, addressed four overflow incidents and six sewer backups, and activated Storm Station No. 1 to handle increased flow.
Chattanooga 311 received more than 110 calls, along with 10 emails, five text messages and 25 service requests reporting flooding.
Mayor Tim Kelly’s office thanked all departments and partner agencies for their efforts during the emergency.
Downtown Chattanooga economy outpacing US
A new report from River City Company shows downtown Chattanooga is outperforming national averages in retail, office occupancy, hospitality and housing, underscoring the area’s economic vitality.
Over the past year, 23 new businesses have opened from the Southside to the Northshore, outpacing closures and relocations. Retail vacancy downtown stands at just 2.7%, well below the national average of 4.1%, according to commercial real estate firm JLL.
Office space is also in high demand, with 93.6% of available space occupied compared to a national average of 79.6%. Major employers such as TVA and Unum have brought employees back to the office, boosting foot traffic and benefiting downtown restaurants and retailers.
Hospitality is on the upswing as well, with the Average Daily Rate climbing to $159 and Revenue per Available Room reaching $103 – both up more than 2% from last year. Hotels currently under construction will add more than 650 rooms downtown in the coming years.
Chattanooga’s housing market remains relatively affordable, with average rent at $1,599 compared to the $1,850 national average. Single-family homes are selling in an average of 44 days, despite a slight increase in time on the market.
River City Company President and CEO Emily Mack said the findings reflect a healthy, diverse downtown economy.
“Having a vibrant retail corridor provides opportunities for visitors and locals to explore our community rich with arts, music and culture.”
The full economic report is available through River City Company.
Alling gift funds UTC Academic Center
Longtime education advocates and philanthropists Ted and Kelly Alling have made a major gift to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to name the Alling Family Student-Athlete Academic Center.
The couple’s contribution will bolster academic support services for UTC student-athletes, including advising, tutoring and life skills programs. UTC officials say the gift aligns with the Allings’ long-standing commitment to helping young people excel both academically and personally.
The Allings have a strong record of investing in education in the region, founding Chattanooga Preparatory School in 2018 and Knoxville Prep in 2024. Kelly Alling has also served as a trustee of the University of Chattanooga Foundation.
The gift comes as UTC student-athletes are posting record academic numbers. In May, the program reported its highest-ever GPA – 3.4339 – with nearly 72% of student-athletes named to the dean’s list and more than 81% earning a place on the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll.
Red Bank renews library program
The city of Red Bank and the Chattanooga Public Library are bringing back the Red Bank Resident Library Card program for 2025-26, giving residents another year of free, full-access library cards.
With funding from the Red Bank City Commission, 200 cards – redeemable at any of CPL’s five locations – will be available to eligible residents at no cost. The program debuted in September 2024 with 175 free cards – all of which were claimed quickly.
“Libraries have always been near and dear to my heart – and it turns out our community feels the same,” says Red Bank Mayor Stefanie Dalton. She noted that while plans for a city library in 1963 never materialized, the card program offers residents access to CPL’s extensive collection, educational programs and services – including a recording studio and the fourth Floor Makerspace.
Cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis and limited to one per household. Applicants must present valid identification and proof of residency. Families with children in Hamilton County Schools are encouraged to use the school system’s own no-cost library card program.
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Erlanger named Pancreas Center of Excellence
Erlanger has earned designation as a National Pancreas Foundation (NPF) Center of Excellence, becoming the only facility in the region – and one of just two in Tennessee – to receive the honor.
The recognition follows a rigorous review process confirming Erlanger’s multidisciplinary approach to pancreatic cancer care, with an emphasis on treating the whole patient and improving quality of life.
To earn the designation, centers must meet strict criteria set by experts and patient advocates, including specialized physician teams with proven expertise in pancreatic cancer.
Erlanger’s program includes fellowship-trained medical and radiation oncologists, interventional gastroenterologists, dedicated pancreatic surgeons and interventional radiologists. The hospital also provides pain management, psychosocial support and other patient-centered services.
The NPF says its Centers of Excellence Program is designed to connect patients with top-quality care nationwide.
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Cherokee Boulevard speed limit lowered
The speed limit on Cherokee Boulevard between Market Street and the Stringers Ridge Tunnel has been permanently reduced to 35 mph, city officials announced. The change, effective immediately, follows recent resurfacing work that altered traffic patterns along the busy corridor.
Chattanooga 2.0 seeking AmeriCorps tutors
Chattanooga 2.0 is seeking 14 AmeriCorps members to serve in its Literacy First tutoring program during the 2025-2026 school year, expanding efforts to boost early reading skills in Hamilton County.
The nonprofit will place tutors at four high-need elementary schools – Calvin Donaldson, East Side, Hardy and Spring Creek – where they’ll work one-on-one with kindergarten and first grade students to strengthen foundational literacy skills.
The initiative builds on a pilot launched at East Side Elementary in 2023-2024 that showed strong results and has since grown into a 12-school district program.
With funding from a new AmeriCorps State grant through Volunteer Tennessee, Chattanooga 2.0’s tutors will work alongside Hamilton County Schools’ existing Literacy First program in the coming year.
“Expanding access to high-quality tutoring during the school day is essential to achieving our goal of 70% reading proficiency in grades 3-5 by 2030,” says Brandon Hubbard-Heitz, chief strategy officer at Chattanooga 2.0.
“Community members can make that goal a reality by applying to serve as AmeriCorps tutors and unlocking a brighter future for students in Hamilton County.”
Applicants must be at least 17 years old with a high school diploma or equivalent. Chattanooga 2.0 encourages candidates from all walks of life – whether starting a career or seeking meaningful work after retirement – to apply.
Tutors will follow a set curriculum, receive weekly training from Chattanooga 2.0’s AmeriCorps program manager and be eligible for a living allowance, a Segal Education Award upon completion, professional development, and career support.
Hamilton County Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sonia Stewart said the collaboration between the district and Chattanooga 2.0 allows for a more targeted, data-backed approach to preventing literacy gaps.
“By coordinating our district’s Literacy First tutoring program with Chattanooga 2.0’s AmeriCorps tutoring initiative, we’re better able to directly serve our students through community partnerships with strategies that improve learning outcomes for the entirety of a student’s educational journey,” Stewart says.
The AmeriCorps Literacy First tutoring program is funded by Volunteer Tennessee with matching support from local funders including the Benwood Foundation, the Maclellan Foundation, the Tucker Foundation, the Howard Fund and the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga.
Applications are open now at chatt2.org/early-literacy-tutor-americorps-chattanooga.
Sheriff boosts deputy pay to $62,000, $54,000
Hamilton County Sheriff Austin Garrett has announced a new round of salary increases for patrol and corrections deputies, marking the second pay hike during his first term in office.
Starting pay for patrol deputies is now $62,000, while corrections deputies will see their starting salary increase to $54,000. The changes, which do not require a tax increase, were made using existing budgeted funds from the Hamilton County Commission.
The adjustments will apply to frontline positions, including deputies, detectives and sergeants, and will also extend to several other classifications. Judicial security deputies and civil warrants deputies will each have a starting salary of $55,000, while corrections services deputies will begin at $50,000.
Garrett said the move is aimed at strengthening recruitment and retention of qualified personnel.
He credited the Hamilton County Commission and Mayor Weston Wamp for their continued support.