‘A lot of work yet to do’: Helene destroys businesses, homes in East Tennessee

UNICOI COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — As the picture of Helene’s aftermath becomes clearer , more stories about those affected are emerging.

Among them, a Unicoi County deputy’s home was destroyed when the raging waters swept through. Another family said that the flood washed away their small business.

“There is the pond,” co-owner of Jonesborough KOA campground Rachel Walker told News 2, pointing at flat, empty ground. “The pavilion would’ve stood right here.”

Not much is left of the campground, but for the Walkers, it was their livelihood.

“Our bath house is gone. Our pavillion, our stages, our cabins, our caboose, our fencing, our trees,” Mike Walker, another co-owner of Jonesborough KOA campground, said.

Flood waters from the Nolichucky River washed it away.

“It is gone. Decimated,” Rachel Walker said. “There is no rebuilding because there is no land. It is physically gone.”

The Walkers live on the second story of their 140-year-old home. The first level was their office. They told News 2 that they were thankful the campers and their staff were okay.

Governor Bill Lee, who surveyed the damage in the region on Tuesday, said people from Tennessee help each other out.

“There’s a lot of work being done,” Lee said at a Tuesday press conference. “There is a lot of work yet to do, but I’ve been very encouraged and impressed by the level of coordination that’s occurring across the state.”

Lacy Hester is doing the work. Hester set up a GoFundMe for Unicoi County deputy Jonathan Williams, who worked through the flood to help his community, but lost everything.

“His home, all his things, his daughter’s things got washed down the river,” Hester said. “Even his patrol cruiser.”

Hester said that earlier this year, Williams saved her brother’s life after a heart attack.

“He was our hero and this is the least that we can do to try to take some of his burdens away,” Hester added.

To donate to Hester’s GoFundMe for Williams, follow this link . To donate to a GoFundMe that supports the Walkers, follow this link .

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