Need information in Tennessee about the devastation of Hurricane Helen? Knox News is here to help solve the cases.
We share information as we find it below.
Stay protected from flooding by checking weather warnings (we’re not out of the woods yet)
Flood warnings are still in effect in different locations for different reasons, and they expire at different times.
We have collected them in one place so that you can stay informed of the changes.
Seriously: stay off the road if you can
North Carolina officials continue to advise that motorists avoid the roads due to the flooding and structure damage the rising waters may have caused, and some of the same advice applies to Tennessee as well.
“We still call on people to stay at home” said Kelse Edwards, a communications officer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. “There are no good ways to travel through that area, especially in the western part of the state.”
Worryingly, flooding has destabilized the ground under roads and bridges.
Tennessee State Troopers are on duty on Interstate 40 and other roads in East Tennessee to prevent motorists from entering flooded areas.
“You never have to try to drive across a flooded road, turn around and not drown,” said Lt. Bill Miller, a public information officer for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “Your vehicle will be swept away very quickly in today’s fast-moving water.”
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Where to get food and water in Newport
There are still some areas without power, but officials are working to restore all power as quickly as possible, according to Newport City Administrator James Finchum.
Access to water is a more difficult problem. The inlet for the water system is located on the French Broad River. The commercial building that powers the pumps is flooded. Until the water recedes, officials cannot determine how long running water will be unavailable. This is the longest time access to water has been limited, Finchum said.
Drinking water and food supplies are distributed to those who need it Newport Professional Development Center at 601 W. Broadway St.
The hospital in Newport has limited capacity
Newport Medical Center is open and operationalalbeit with a limited capacity due to the lack of water.
The emergency department, medical-surgical unit, intensive care unit and labor and delivery unit are fully operational, said Scott Williams, CEO of Newport Medical Center.
Do you need shelter in Cocke County tonight?
Cocke County Superintendent Manney Moore said Parrottsville Elementary School at 1901 Old Parrottsville Highway is still open as an emergency shelter. Currently 20-25 people live there and there is room to accommodate 30 people comfortably.
Centerview Primary School is closed. All residents of that emergency shelter were able to return to friends or family.
The The Newport Community Center at 426 Cosby Highway is also open as emergency shelter for anyone who is displaced.
Check for school cancellations
Classes are cancelled Monday at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, an East Tennessee community hit hard by flooding.
The university campus itself will be open for other functions, but no classes will be held.
Greene County schools are closed the entire next week, Monday through Friday.
TBI sets up a hotline for missing persons
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has a hotline for missing persons reports: 800-TBI-FIND.
“Callers should be prepared to provide as much identifying information as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts,” the TBI said in a news release.
TBI coordinates the submitted reports with the local police.
Don’t call about property, the TBI said.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Hurricane Helene relief in Tennessee: Where to get food, water and shelter
