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Cocke County, Newport TN evacuated after Helene flooding

Published

1 month ago

September 28, 2024

Cocke County, Newport TN evacuated after Helene flooding

(This report has been up to date with new info.)

Officers in Cocke County urged all of downtown Newport to evacuate instantly simply after 3 p.m. Sept. 27 following studies {that a} North Carolina dam had “suffered a catastrophic failure,” although the Tennessee Emergency Administration Company mentioned round 4:40 p.m. it was informed by Duke Power the dam had not failed.

Walters Dam is owned and operated by Duke Power and controls a portion of the Pigeon River. The Walters Dam is also referred to as the Waterville Dam and each names have been utilized in numerous officers’ communications.

“Duke Power at the moment has all gates open on the Waterville Dam and continues to cross water by way of the dam,” Duke Power spokesperson Madison McDonald informed Knox Information in an electronic mail. “We will verify that each the dam and our floodgates are performing as anticipated.”

Whatever the specifics of what occurred on the dam, harmful flooding was widespread in Newport and displaced householders and metropolis operations.

Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball mentioned the jail was evacuated and Cocke County Faculties supplied buses to assist transfer folks displaced from totally different websites.

“We nearly didn’t get out ourselves,” Ball mentioned of the swift-moving water.

The Pigeon River at Newport reached a gauge peak of 27.13 toes, nearly 4 toes over its earlier document of 23.4 toes, rising roughly 22 toes in 16 hours, based on Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration knowledge.

A number of water rescues have taken place in Cocke County, based on Tennessee Emergency Administration. The Newport Group Middle at 433 Prospect Ave. is open for individuals who would not have a secure place to remain.

“There isn’t any longer a danger of an imminent dam failure for Walters Dam on the Pigeon River,” the Nationwide Climate Service workplace in Morristown posted on X at 4:45 p.m. “Main flooding continues, nevertheless. Proceed to heed evacuation orders from native emergency administration and regulation enforcement. Don’t drive into flooded or closed roads.”

“All county and metropolis emergency sources are at the moment totally engaged in water rescue and evacuation operations,” Mathis wrote in a Fb put up earlier within the afternoon. “We’re nonetheless a number of hours from the anticipated high-water mark.

“If water is rising close to you, PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE WATER REACHES YOU. Make plans to flee BEFORE you want help.”

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Rain compelled the closure of Interstate 40 East in Cocke County at exit 432 as excessive water from the Pigeon River threatened to overflow onto the interstate, mentioned Tennessee Division of Transportation spokesperson Mark Nagi.

Elements of Hartford have been underwater this afternoon, based on video posted by Nagi. The city sits alongside the financial institution of the Pigeon River.

Rivers attain, cross document highs

The Pigeon River at Newport rose to over thrice its flood stage by 4 p.m. Sept. 27, blowing previous document ranges when it reached over 27 toes excessive. The earlier document was 23 toes, 4 inches.

Equally, the French Broad at Newport was anticipated to succeed in greater than double it’s flood stage by the tip of the day. By 3:45 p.m. it had reached practically 19 toes however was anticipated to succeed in 23 toes by early Sept. 28. The document for the river is 24 toes.