NEWPORT, Tenn. — Students across Cocke County are out of school this week after historic flooding from Hurricane Helene put several rural communities underwater. After its own community saw dangerous floods, Newport Grammar School took steps to help people recover.
Thursday, administrators and staff passed out water, food and other supplies to support students and their families. There will be no school next week for fall break, so students cannot get those resources in class.
The staff has also been affected, like Ron Coffey and his wife Melanie Coffey. Ron is the assistant principal at Newport Grammar School and Melissa is a teacher. Almost all of their belongings were lost when floodwaters ravaged their home.
"I don't think people really understand how high the water got," Melanie said. "It was really fast-moving water and enough to take down a brick building."
Ron and Melanie recount that water rose in their home to 2 feet over five minutes. They were able to rescue their dogs and a few sentimental belongings.
Thursday, over two dozen people helped the Coffeys remove ruined furniture, clothes and appliances. The Coffeys said they did not have flood insurance, and that it wasn't offered because they don't live in a natural flood zone.
"The best thing to come of it though is the beauty in the destruction," Ron said. "You see people helping, the community stepped up."
The Coffeys say they are thankful for the support of their school family, and feel blessed by the community — even though they aren't sure when they can start fixing their home and move back in.
The entire neighborhood community also was affected by flood waters.