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.