KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A total of 46 people were still missing Tuesday, around four days after historic flooding swept through upper East Tennessee and devastated communities.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency sent its eighth flash report on the impact of Hurricane Helene on Tuesday. It said as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had received more than 500 calls about missing people. A list of the counties that still have missing people is available below.
- Carter County: 7
- Johnson County: 7
- Unicoi County: 7
- Washington County: 25
TEMA said that number did not represent the total number of people missing from their communities. It only represents the number of public leads the TBI has.
The emergency management agency also said it confirmed eight fatalities from the storm. Another body was found by in Greeneville Tuesday evening, identified as a 32-year-old man who went out on a boat Friday night to try to help people.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is helping with welfare checks, searches and other law enforcement responsibilities in areas that saw floods. It is delivering commodities to survivors, and it helped fly-in engineers to evaluate possible landslide locations.
Interstate 40 remained closed near the North Carolina state line and could stay closed for months. Interstate 26 was also closed near Mile Marker 40 in Unicoi County.
TEAM warned that as of Oct. 1, 21 drinking water facilities have reported operational issues and 17 had issued boil water advisories. Those 17 are listed below.
- Carter County—Elizabethton Water Department
- Carter County—First Utility District of Carter County
- Carter County—South Elizabethton Utility District
- Cocke County—Newport Utilities Board
- Greene County—Cross Anchor Utility District
- Greene County—Chuckey Utility District
- Greene County—Glen Hills Utility District
- Greene County—Greenville Water and Light Commission
- Greene County—Mosheim Utility District
- Greene County—North Greene Utilities
- Jefferson County—Dandridge Water Department
- Johnson County—Mountain City Water Department
- Sevier County—Webb Creek Utility District
- Sullivan County—Intermont Utility District
- Unicoi County—Erwin Utilities Authority
- Unicoi County—Unicoi Utility District
- Washington County— Jonesborough Water Department
Governor Bill Lee requested an expedited major disaster declaration, according to TEMA, which could lead to federal public and individual assistance to Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. Grainger County could also see public assistance.
Five bridges were destroyed out of 310 that were inspected, and 22 assessed routes remained closed on Tuesday.