Tennessee
Food, water, shelter, roads: Where to get help in Tennessee after Hurricane Helene
Need information in Tennessee about Hurricane Helen devastation? Knox News is here to help sort things out.
We’re sharing information as we find it below.
Stay safe from floods by checking the weather warnings (we’re not out the woods yet)
Flood warnings are still in place at various locations for various reasons, and they expire at different times.
We have compiled them in one place so you can stay abreast of the changes.
Seriously: Stay off the roads if you can
North Carolina officials are continuing to advise that drivers do not go out on the roads due to the floods and the structure damage the rising water may have caused, and some of the same advice is true in Tennessee as well.
“We’re still urging people to stay at home,” said Kelse Edwards, a Communications officer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. “There’s no good ways to travel around that area, basically in the western part of the state.”
A worry is that floodwaters have destabilized the ground under roads and bridges.
Tennessee State Troopers are on duty on Interstate 40 and other roadways across East Tennessee to stop drivers from entering flooded areas.
“You do not ever need to attempt to drive across a roadway that’s flooded, turn around and don’t drown,” said Lt. Bill Miller, a public information officer for the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “Your vehicle will be swept away very quickly in current swift moving waters.”
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Where to get food and water in Newport
There are still some areas without power, but officials are trying to restore all power as quickly as possible, according to Newport City Administrator James Finchum.
Water access is a more challenging issue. Intake for the water system is on the French Broad River. The operations building that powers the pumps is under water. Until the water recedes, officials cannot determine how long running water will be unavailable. This is the longest time access to water has been limited, Finchum said.
Drinking water and food supplies are being passed out to those who need it at the Professional Development Center in Newport at 601 W. Broadway St.
Hospital in Newport is at a limited capacity
Newport Medical Center is open and operating, though at a limited capacity due to the lack of water.
The emergency department, medical surgical unit, intensive care unit and labor and delivery unit are fully operational, according to Scott Williams, chief executive officer of Newport Medical Center.
Need shelter tonight in Cocke County?
The Cocke County Superintendent Manney Moore said Parrottsville Elementary School at 1901 Old Parrottsville Highway is still open as an emergency shelter. There are currently 20-25 people there and there is room to house 30 people comfortably.
Centerview Elementary School is closed. All occupants at that emergency shelter have been able to return to stay with friends or family.
The Newport Community Center at 426 Cosby Highway is also open as an emergency shelter for anyone displaced.
Check for school cancellations
Classes are canceled Monday at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, an East Tennessee community hit hard by floods.
The university campus itself will be open for other functions, but classes will not be held.
Greene County Schools will be closed all next week, Monday through Friday.
TBI establishes hotline for missing people
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has a hotline for reports of missing people: 800-TBI-FIND.
“Callers should be prepared to relay as much identifying information as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification, and last known whereabouts,” the TBI said in a news release.
TBI will coordinate with local police on any reports sent in.
Do not call about property, the TBI said.
Tennessee
Vols Make Splash Hire With Jim Knowles | VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Tennessee Football | The RTI Low Down | Rocky Top Insider

On this week’s episode of The RTI Low Down, Bob Baskerville and Chris Low are diving into a huge week for the Tennessee Football program.
The guys start the show by discussing the Vols’ big move to fire Tim Banks and the splash hire in acquiring defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Bob and Chris are then joined by VFL and SEC Legend Kevin Burnett to talk about his time on Rocky Top, his thoughts on playing under defensive coordinators, Josh Heupel’s current team, and more.
The guys close down the show by breaking down Tennessee’s 2026 schedule, Vol Hoops’ tough test on the hardwood this week, and much more. Download and subscribe TODAY!
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The RTI Low-Down is brought to you by the Tate Insurance Group. Find out more information at www.tateinsurancegroup.com
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More from RTI: Tennessee Football 2025 Transfer Tracker – Who has Announced They’re Entering the Portal So Far
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YouTube –
0:00 Intro
8:30 Tennessee Fires Tim Banks, Hires Jim Knowles
21:25 VFL Kevin Burnett Talks Vol Football!
43:20 UT 2026 Schedule
50:17 Tennessee Basketball Faces Huge Test on Tuesday
1:01:06 Close
Tennessee
Remembering one of Middle Tennessee’s largest tornado outbreaks 4 years later
Tennessee
Tracking Music City Bowl opt outs for Tennessee and Illinois
Tracking the opt outs for both Tennessee and Illinois before the Music City Bowl on December 30 (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville:
Tennessee
Linebacker Arion Carter: Carter over the last seasons had 96 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 31 career games. He had a team-high 76 tackles this season, with 6.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while appearing in 10 games. He missed two games and was limited against Oklahoma in November while dealing with turf toe injuries. Carter had 68 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season and 17 tackles and 1.0 tackles for loss in eight games as a freshman in 2023.
Wide Receiver Chris Brazzell II: He a breakout senior season in his second year with the Vols, catching 62 passes for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He had 19 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns in 2024, after transferring from Tulane. In 15 games at Tulane he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and five touchdowns. Brazzell is ranked No. 7 at wide receiver on Mel Kiper Jr.’s NFL Draft Big Board. He’s ranked No. 34 overall on ESPN’s list of the best available prospects in the draft.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy: Did not play this season after tearing his ACL during offseason training in January. He was a star last season with 44 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions. He had 31 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games as a freshman at Oregon State before transferring to Tennessee.
Illinois
Offensive Tackle J.C. Davis: Bret Bielema said the Illinois starting left tackle is opting out of the Music City Bowl. He was an All-Big Ten First Team pick by the league coaches this season and the No. 3 left tackle this season according to Pro Football Focus grades. He had made 49 straight starts before opting out of the bowl game.
EDGE Gabe Jacas: The Illinois outside linebacker declared for the NFL Draft on Friday night. He led the Big Ten this season with 11.0 sacks. He had 13.5 tackles for loss and 43 total tackles in 12 games this season. He finishes second in Illinois program history for career sacks, with 27.0, trailing only Simeon Rice. Jacas had 74 tackles, 8.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss last season, after combining for 8.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss in his first two seasons at Illinois.
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