Southeast Flood Toll Hits 27

The death toll from storms that lashed the Southeast over the weekend has now hit 27, and lawmakers in Tennessee warn that the cleanup bill will be in the billions. Much of Nashville remains flooded and authorities fear that the still-rising Cumberland River will swamp the city's only working water treatment plant, CNN reports.

Many of Nashville's most prominent buildings, including the Grand Ole Opry House, have been severely damaged. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked the Obama administration for federal assistance. "This is not just a local, or a state, disaster, it’s now a national disaster" that requires FEMA help to deal with, Rep. Jim Cooper told the Tennessean. "This isn’t just a 100-year flood. This could be a 500 or a 1,000-year flood.” (More Tennessee flooding stories.)