Coupled with heavy storms and deadly tornados, severe weather has now killed a total of 29 people in the states of Tennessee and Mississippi over the last week -- storms which President Barack Obama described as "devastating."

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) confirmed the state fatalities including 10 dead in Nashville after the Cumberland River -- looping through the iconic city famous for its musical heritage -- crested at about 52 feet (16 meters) late Monday, submerging the metropolitan region.

Officials rushed the evacuation of the city's historic Grand Ole Opry House, a legendary concert hall showcasing country music stars for over 80 years, as its location next to the Cumberland saw it swamped by the rising river.

Obama said he was closely monitoring the crisis brought about by the "devastating storms," and dispatched his Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief Craig Fugate to Tennessee for a firsthand look at the flooding.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with every American who has been impacted by the severe weather and flooding in the southeast, and our deepest condolences go out to those who have lost loved ones," Obama said in a statement.

"We will continue working in close coordination with state and local officials to support response and recovery efforts."

Governor Phil Bredesen on Tuesday formally requested a presidential disaster declaration for 52 counties across Tennessee to better coordinate relief, TEMA said.

More than 16 inches (40 centimeters) of rain fell on the region over two days, with isolated pockets in Tennessee seeing up to 19.4 inches of rain on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS warned of "an extremely dangerous situation" with highways and smaller roads impassable due to flooding.

The floodwaters prompted further power outages Tuesday around Nashville and basic utilities such as water treatment systems were shut down. Emergency officials urged residents to drink boiled or bottled water.

Downtown Nashville was seeing floodwaters slowly receding Tuesday afternoon. A day earlier a significant portion of the city was turned into a brown lake engulfing dozens of blocks as lone figures waded chest-deep through the murky water.

Among the dead was an elderly couple who had been driving to church on Sunday when their car was swept away by flood waters, Nashville's Emergency Operations Center said in a statement.

Their bodies were found hundreds of feet (meters) apart in a wooded area in south Nashville.

The bodies of the other victims were uncovered in homes and cars across central Tennessee, including victims of flash floods that hit people inside their homes and outdoors.

The American Red Cross is operating 17 emergency shelters throughout the region and has handed out over 8,000 meals since Saturday, the organization said Tuesday.

Coupled with powerful tornados that ripped through Tennessee, the state's death toll has reached 19, while neighboring Mississippi last week saw 10 killed by the deadly twisters.

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