NASHVILLE - In response to West Tennessee flooding, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has activated two district strike teams to assist flood victims and emergency officials, according to a news release.
"Several counties in West Tennessee are in states of emergency," Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons said in the release.
"As the Mississippi River and its tributaries continue to rise, we have state troopers on the ground to help support local law enforcement and emergency management officials in any way they can."
A strike team is a specially trained, self-sustained law enforcement unit able to respond to several different types of crisis situations.
The teams will be based in Tiptonville and will guard access points to the Mississippi River on the main levee, assist local agencies with emergency calls and patrol in the region, the release stated.
The THP also has sent its mobile command post to Dyersburg and will have a Huey helicopter in Jackson that can be used to rescue people trapped by flooding, the release stated.