FLASH floods in Nashville has seen 130people rescued and residents clinging to trees as the record Tennessee rain destroys home.

On Sunday morning, parts of Tennessee were under a flash flood emergency as a storm rolled across the state.

Nashville's weather service said there were multiple rescues taking place across the southern areas as there were "people clinging to trees".

During the storm, people were also forced to take refuge in their attacks in a bid to avoid the rising water.

"Major flash flooding is occurring with numerous roads, interstates, and homes flooded with water rescues ongoing," the National Weather Service in Nashville tweeted.

"Please stay home and do not travel."

Last night Nashville's fire department rescued at least 130 people from the rising waters with 30 main roads remaining blocked due to the high water levels.

In Craighead, 40 dogs were rescued from doggy-care provider Camp Bow Wow.

Early this morning the weather service urged people not to travel as "this is a threatening situation".

"Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order," the agency added.

"A Flash Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring."

Officials are urging locals to stay inside and not put others in more danger by trying to save vehicles or other items outside.

"If you are in the warned area move to higher ground immediately. Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate precautions to protect life and property," the agency said.

Saturday's rainfall total for Nashville was 5.75 which according to the National Weather Service the largest daily rainfall ever recorded in March and marks the fourth wettest day in Nashville's history.

Multiple people were rescued from an apartment complex in Nashville when it become heavily flooded.

Many waterways in the state had reached "flood stage" by the early hours of Sunday morning.

In Mount Juliet, an entire shopping mall was completely submerged in water.

On Sunday morning the Metro Nashville Fire Department said emergency crews were responding to residents in the impacted areas all across the county.

It comes as 70 million people throughout the south faced a threat of more tornadoes after deadly twisters killed seven people.

Cities including Memphis, Little Rock, Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh and Washington D.C are all facing severe weather.

Over the last week a series of devastating tornadoes touched down in the Deep South on tearing "airplanes and homes apart like toys"

Willie Jean Harris, 73, his wife Barbara Harris, 69, and their daughter Ebonique Harris, 39, were all killed when their wooden home in Ochatchee, Alabama, was left in ruin yesterday morning.

A 12-year-old girl who was also inside the Harris' home at the time the storm hit has been rushed to hospital to undergo emergency surgery on her back.

Latashia Harris-Ramos, the daughter and sister of the victims, told WBRC she has been left "numb" after learning of their deaths.

"I got a call from a friend who was talking to my uncle and she said she heard a loud noise and my uncle was yelling for help," she told the network.

"I kept calling my uncle's house, my mom's cellphone. I couldn't get anyone and then my brother called me and told me everything was gone and he couldn't find my parents… He told me that my sister had died and I just got in my car and drove here."

She continued: "I was hoping they found shelter or something and then I found out that they had passed."

Two more of the seven victims killed in the cluster of eight tornadoes that swept across the region yesterday have also been identified.

James William Geno, 72, was killed in his mobile home, also in Ochatchee.

His neighbor, Dwight Jennings, said the pair had plans to go fishing together this weekend. He spent several hours searching for Geno's dog, who was later found alive and unharmed.

Similarly, 72-year-old Emily Myra Wilborn died in her mobile home in Wellington.

'LONG-TRACK' TWISTERS

At least two others storm-related fatalities have so far been reported.

One person was killed in Georgia when the cluster of tornadoes swept into the state after decimating areas of Alabama on Thursday.

Another person, 62-year-old Ester Jarrell, died when a large tree fell and crushed her mobile home in Wilkinson County, Mississippi.

Fears remain high that the death count may rise still, as emergency search and rescue teams continue to sift through rubble and debris in the region, searching for people trapped beneath.

At least 50 million people remain at risk throughout the South amid a lingering threat of "violent" and "long-track" twisters.

It means winds could reach 166mph or higher and the twisters could be on the ground for 25 miles or more.

On Thursday, a hurricane tore through Alabama at speeds of 100mph.

John De Block, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Birmingham, said: "As many as eight tornadoes might have hit Alabama on Thursday."

While Alabama appeared to bear the brunt of Thursday's tornado outbreak, forecasters warned of dangerous thunderstorms, flash floods and possible twisters from eastern Mississippi into western Georgia, and northward into Tennessee and Kentucky. 

The National Weather Service for Atlanta said a dangerous, fast moving tornado ripped through some of the metro's southern suburbs just after midnight.

The agency issued an urgent alert, saying: "This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!"

"You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter," the alert continued.

"Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible."

The city of Newnan, southwest of Atlanta, suffered "heavy damage" from the deadly Alabama tornadoes, a tweet from the city said early on Friday. 

Several posts on social media used the term "war zone" to describe devastating damage.

"The city experienced heavy damage in and around the historic downtown area due to tonight’s weather," the city's official Twitter account posted around 1am.

"Please note that both the city and county crews are in route and working on scene to clear impacted areas. Please remain safe in your homes and take shelter. Stay safe!"

In Mississippi, dozens of people have taken shelter at an elementary school in Lowndes County in anticipation of the severe weather, and two other schools in the county are also open to take people in.

The state also saw a storm-related death on Wednesday after 62-year-old Ester Jarrell died when a tree toppled over her mobile home when heavy rains soaked the ground.

First lady Jill Biden postponed a trip to Birmingham and Jasper, Alabama, which she had planned for Friday because of the severe weather, her office said.

"Thinking of everyone in Alabama and all of those impacted by the severe weather across the South tonight. My prayers are with the grieving families. Please stay safe," Biden wrote on Twitter.

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