Residents of Newport, Tennessee, have been ordered to evacuate the town “immediately” as heavy rainfall and flash flooding stemming from Hurricane Helene makes its way north.
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis wrote his Facebook page just before 3 p.m. EST Friday that the Waterville Dam “HAS SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE” and ordered the “EVACUATION ALL OF DOWNTOWN NEWPORT IMMEDIATELY.”
Mathis posted about half an hour later that he was declaring a state of emergency for the county, which is located roughly 60 miles east of Knoxville.
Dang, this is disappointing. I lived in the Ashe county, NC area for about ten years and cannot get ahold of anyone… I think their access to the closest town (mtn city TN) may be cut off with how steep those roads are. The news videos are all about Blowing Rock and Boone. Be safe! Lot of landslide potential.
We were heading to Lenoir Nc from JC TN. It’s just effed up all around. Without being an absolute bitch, I am reiterating “FEMA/Socialism GOOD!” Too all who will listen. 😁<bows> Oh BTW I’m not sure Mtn City has internet!!! Carter /Sullivan county, please connect!!!
My time in Mtn city was that only half the town even had cell phone service haha. Food Lion? Ya, maybe in some of the parking lot. Food City? Nope. I could make a phone call at the bar out by Midway but not in most of the town. Hope you and them fair ok.