ALERT: Downtown Newport ordered to evacuate
Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis has issued a state of emergency for Cocke County and the immediate evacuation of downtown Newport due to a catastrophic failure of the Waterville dam in North Carolina. Follow law enforcement directives when leaving the area.
Westport Woman Recalls the Evacuation and Fury of Hurricane Milton in Florida
Westport native Faith Bennivedse recently moved to Tampa, Florida and found herself caught in the chaos of her first hurricane season in the Sunshine State. As Hurricane Milton bore down on the region, Bennivedse shared her behind-the-scenes story from St. Petersburg, offering insight into what it’s like for a new Floridian to face the power of nature head-on.
Local leaders discuss flooding impact, response
NEWPORT — City and county officials spoke about the effects of the flooding from Hurricane Helene at the recent Kiwanis Club of Newport meeting. Those who spoke were Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis, Cocke County Emergency Management Agency (CCEMA) Director Joe Esway and Newport City Administrator James Finchum. Cocke County Sheriff C.J. Ball was also in attendance. Mathis explained that all three rivers that pass through the county hit record flood stages simultaneously resulting in large-scale damage across the county. He said Newport Utilities (NU)...
TVA: Nolichucky River has crested, dam remains intact
A mandatory evacuation has been issued for all residents in South Hamblen County along the Nolichucky River due to the "imminent failure of the Nolichucky Dam" in Greene County according to the Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Medical Service.