Officials confirm 2 weather-related deaths in Unicoi, Johnson counties

UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – News Channel 11 was at Unicoi County High School on Sunday afternoon to attend a press conference after devastating flooding throughout the county.

The press conference was streamed live and can be watched above.

During the briefing, Myron Hughes with the Incident Management Team said two weather-related deaths have been confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). One of those deaths occurred in Johnson County and the other in Unicoi County.

“We have a specific process for investigating and reporting weather-related fatalities, and the Tennessee Department of Health is involved, confirms and reports those,” Hughes said. “As of 4:30 [Sunday] afternoon, the Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed two weather-related deaths: one in Johnson County and one in Unicoi County. They are working with the William B. Jenkins Forensics Center on making notifications to family.”

Hughes said the total number of weather-related deaths is expected to change.

“Regarding the most current and accurate number of missing persons, the TBI and TEMA are continuing to work jointly to compile that list. They will be issuing a press release sometime this afternoon containing that information, and we will also be sharing that information to the sites that we have when that information is available.”

TEMA and TBI later issued a report stating the current number of missing people in Unicoi County sat at 47. The agencies said it is likely many of those people are, in fact, safe but do not have means of communicating that they are not in danger.

Hughes said every agency and affected community is grateful for the outpouring of responses and donations made.

Going forward, Hughes said the new site collecting donations for those impacted in Unicoi County will be the Evergreen Freewill Baptist Church at 910 Hoback Street in Erwin. The donation center will be open every day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily.

Pickup sites for those in need of items are available at the Southside Freewill Baptist Church at 1313 Chestoa Pike in Erwin, Temple Hill Elementary School at 797 Old Highway Road in Erwin and Flag Pond School at 917 Old Asheville Highway in Flag Pond. All three sites will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Hughes said donation items needed include trash bags, flashlights, batteries, medical and work gloves, soap, deodorant, unopened medications like Tylenol, shampoo, body wash, rubbing alcohol, bandages, Wet Wipes, small propane gas tanks, charcoal, blankets, candles and unopened toys and board games for children.

Absolutely no clothing is being accepted as of Sunday.

Unicoi County EMA Director and Incident Commander Jim Erwin, County Mayor Garland “Bubba” Evely, Director of Schools John English, Erwin Mayor Glenn White, Tennessee Highway Patrol Sergeant Matt Blankenship and other leaders were present along with Hughes on Sunday.

Unicoi County leaders will address the public again at 10 a.m. on Monday.

This is a developing story. More information will be available shortly.

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