Major Flooding Causes Much of Southern Unicoi County to Evacuate
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Major Flooding Causes Much of Southern Unicoi...
Major flooding throughout Unicoi County today and overnight caused the National Weather Service to call for flash flood warnings until 12:30 a.m., which were then extended to 3:30 a.m.
Dana Wachter/WJHL
This house at the fork of Rice Creek and South Indian Creek in Flag Pond was surrounded by water. Flooding pushed debris over the bridge from the street.
Unicoi Co., Tenn.— Major flooding throughout Unicoi County today and overnight caused the National Weather Service to call for flash flood warnings until 12:30 a.m., which were then extended to 3:30 a.m.
Officials in Unicoi County saw creeks rising before dark last night, and began encouraging families to evacuate to higher ground, away from creeks and streams.
Rains got worse as the night went on. There were mudslides; water rose to people’s front doors; roadways and bridges became covered in water. Flooded streams and creeks pushed debris over roads.
Sheriff Kent Harris thanks the Terry Haynes of the Highway Department for alerting him, so his teams could work early and quickly to make sure no one was hurt. They evacuated at least fifty people safely.
“Our primary concern was the safety of the residents,“ said Harris, “puttin’ people out of harms way, And I think we’ve accomplished that tonight.“
Evacuees were originally taken to the Pentecostal Church in Erwin, but by 3:30 a.m., they were brought to the Super Eight Motel in Unicoi County.
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