NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — With heavy rain expected tonight, some Nashville residents are raising concerns about large debris piles still sitting in neighborhoods across Metro Nashville — and whether those piles could make flooding worse.

Piles of trees, branches, and other woody material left after cleanup efforts can become a problem if heavy rain washes them into nearby storm drains, culverts, or creeks. Metro Water Services says those blockages can quickly lead to flooding and even damage critical infrastructure like bridges and drainage systems.

To get ahead of the storm, crews ran what officials call “rain routes” earlier this week — checking and clearing storm drains in areas that have historically had flooding problems or where debris could create an issue. Metro Water Services also responds to reports of trees or debris blocking bridges or culverts, which can restrict water flow during storms.

Nashville Department of Transportation crews have been working 12-hour shifts every day since early February, actively monitoring conditions to stay ahead of potential issues.

With heavy rain possible tonight, the city says crews will be on call overnight to respond to any reports of isolated or flash flooding.

City leaders are reminding residents that how debris is placed can make a difference. Vegetation debris should be placed at the curb — or in the alley if that is where pickup normally happens — but should never block storm drains, drainage ditches, culverts, sidewalks, or roadways. Officials also stress that yard debris should never be placed directly in a ditch, because that can quickly block water flow when storms move through.

If you see flooding on a roadway, you are asked to report it to Metro’s non-emergency line.

Officials also encourage residents to understand their property’s flood risk and stay aware of changing conditions during storms. For information on flood risk in your area, visit Nashville.gov.

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Update 2:45 p.m.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the emergency situation near I-24 in Rutherford County has been resolved and the interstate is in the process of reopening. Traffic is moving slowly as the scene clears. Drivers needing highway assistance can dial *847 (*THP).

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Authorities have shut down part of westbound I-24 in Rutherford County due to an ongoing emergency situation Wednesday afternoon.

Officials told NewsChannel 5 there is an armed individual who has barricaded themselves inside a home near the 9000 block of Manchester Pike.

No hostages have been reported and officials added that the individual fired their gun into the air, but didn’t target anyone.

Law enforcement is working to negotiate with the individual to surrender and come out safely.

According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, I-24 westbound is closed from the Coffee County line to South Church Street. Nearby Highway 41 is also closed between Epps Mill Road and Big Springs Road.

The Tennessee SmartWay system reports police activity near mile marker 81, where all westbound lanes and the exit ramp are blocked.

Drivers are being directed to take Exit 97 toward Wartrace and follow U.S. Highway 231 back to I-24 in Murfreesboro as an alternate route.

Authorities have not released additional details about the emergency situation.

KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A newly identified synthetic opioid has been linked to at least 16 overdose deaths in East Tennessee, according to preliminary toxicology tests from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.

Officials say the drug, N-propionitrile chlorphine, also known as cychlorphine, appeared in nine overdose deaths between late October and December. As of mid-January, the substance had been associated with seven additional deaths.

Authorities say the drug has been detected primarily in cases where other substances were present, including methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Chris Thomas, chief administrative officer and director of the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, said the drug has been appearing more frequently in toxicology reports, though officials are still working to understand how widely it has spread.

“It’s showing up at an exponential rate and at this point, we don’t know if it’s a single batch and done with or if it’s the new future,” Thomas said.

Initial cases were identified in Knox County before spreading to several nearby counties, including Roane, McMinn, Campbell, Union, Anderson, Claiborne, and Sevier counties, according to forensic officials.

Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, the center’s chief medical examiner, said cychlorphine is not approved for clinical use and has never been authorized for sale on the medical market.

“This isn’t a drug that has been approved for clinical use, and it’s never been clinically approved to be sold on the market,” said Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, chief medical examiner at Knox County Regional Forensic Center. “We do know it’s more powerful than fentanyl and that naloxone, or Narcan, does not completely block the effects of the drug and multiple doses may be needed to prevent an overdose.”

She said early findings suggest the substance may be more potent than fentanyl. Mileusnic-Polchan also said naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, may require multiple doses to counteract overdoses involving the drug.

Researchers say cychlorphine is part of a group known as new synthetic opioids, or NSOs, laboratory-made opioids that differ structurally from fentanyl and its analogues.

According to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, the drug may have first appeared in China in 2024 before spreading to Europe, Canada, and the United States by mid-2025.

The Knox County Regional Forensic Center first identified the substance in Tennessee in late November 2025 after it appeared in an overdose death in Roane County. Investigators later determined an earlier case in Knox County dated back to October.

Officials say the findings remain preliminary as investigators continue to study the substance and its role in overdose deaths.