Madison County Coroner identifies John Powell and Garnett Isbell as victims of weekend flooding

Two people who died during flooding over the weekend in Madison County have been identified, according to the Madison County Coroner’s Office. The coroner’s office said the deaths bring the county’s weekend flood fatalities to three total, with a third victim still not publicly identified in the initial reporting.

The coroner identified John Powell, 57, as one of the victims. The office said Powell drowned after his basement apartment flooded during the weekend storms.

Powell’s death was reported in connection with rising water that entered the lower level of the residence, according to the coroner’s account summarized in local coverage. The coroner’s office did not provide additional details about the specific timing of the flooding or the location of the apartment beyond the basement flooding description.

The second identified victim was Garnett Isbell, 73, who died after his vehicle was swept off Page Creek Road in Richmond. Local reporting described the incident as a presumed drowning tied to floodwaters affecting the roadway.

According to the coroner’s information as reported, Isbell’s death was associated with water overtopping or otherwise compromising the highway surface on Page Creek Road, resulting in his car being swept off the roadway and into floodwater.

The report indicates that a third person who died in the same weekend flooding events has not yet been identified by the coroner’s office. The identification process for the remaining victim has not been detailed in the initial account, including whether a family notification delay or ongoing investigative steps are involved.

Following identifications, coroner’s offices typically coordinate with law enforcement and emergency management agencies for incident records and final determinations. In cases involving deaths during rapid flooding, investigators and public safety officials also often document where water entered structures, which road segments were affected, and whether warnings or road closures were in place during the highest-water periods.

Residents and local officials in flood-prone areas are generally reminded that sudden flooding can overwhelm basements and low-lying roadways quickly. For families of victims, the next steps usually include completion of autopsy and toxicology workflows as applicable, along with final confirmation of manner of death and formal release details by the coroner’s office.