Carter County 911: Roan Mountain evacuated amid flooding

CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — People in Roan Mountain are being evacuated Friday morning as flooding occurs across the region.

Carter County 911 stated in a social media post that Roan Mountain residents were being evacuated as of 7:30 a.m.

The flood siren in the area has also been activated, according to Carter County 911.

News Channel 11’s Kelly Goetz was in Roan Mountain and found most of Erik C. Anderson Community Park underwater and a nearby bridge washed out.

Several schools and churches in Carter County are serving as shelters. Hampton Elementary, Cloudland High, Unaka High, Happy Valley High, Harmony Freewill Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in Roan Mountain are all open for shelter.

Carter County 911 also stated that any county fire station can serve as a shelter.

Cloudland High School Assistant Principal Matt Birchfield said that if space runs out at the high school, additional backup shelters will become available.

The city of Knoxville shared the eight swift water technicians with the Knoxville Fire Department and four Knoxville Police Officers trained in swift water rescue, and search and rescue are assisting with rescue efforts in Carter County.

People are asked to refrain from traveling unless evacuating or in case of an emergency.

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