News Flash

Press Conference Information

•  County Commission Meeting Update – 9/30/24
• Updated Shelter Information

1. 15-20 people left in the shelter
2. Red Cross has arrived at the Lamar Shelter and will start over seeing

•  Message Boards at 5 new locations with flyers and other information, with internet and cell service still nonexistent, we are place 5 signs at the location below will have all flyers with information prestaining to this event. 

1. Embreeville
2. Lamar School
3. South Central 
4. New Salem
5. Jackson Bridge  

• TVA Update on river forecast. TVA is drawing down Watauga Lake, they are releasing 8,000 CFS till around noon Friday. This is in preparation of any future rain events for the area.   
• Federal Resources – Nevada Task Force on the ground working with 45 people along with 15 search and rescue teams still completing grid searches. 
•  Declarations have been signed on the Federal, State, and Local level. FEMA is in town and East Tennessee should be added to the Federal with in the next few days.  
•  Doug Jones from the road department gave an update on county roads and bridges update, all country roads are passible but have debris still located on them. Road department advises use caution. Corby Bridge is the only county owned bridge still completely closed. 

1. Frank Staton
2. Pendleton Smith
3. Bill Mauk
4. Charlie Carson
5. AJ Wells
6. H Coggins
7. Corby Bridge – CLOSED

• PIO Susan Saylor with the Washington County gave an update on the operations of the department. They have been in the scene since Friday working in the affected areas along with a command post set up. 
  1. She talked about the looting issues and the arrest that have been made. 
  2. She also advised that the Sherriff wanted to be clear that if you loot you will be arrested. 
  3. If you are out after dark walking in the area you will be detained until they can determine if you are up to no good.
• Superintendent Boyd with Washington County Schools gave an update on the school calendar, schools being used as shelters, along with other info. 
  1. School is out until October 14^th which is after fall break. 
  2. They are currently using two schools as shelters and once school as a staging area for first responders. 
  3. They are still providing meals at the schools during the closures.
• Utility Manager from Jonesborough Kevin Brobeck gave an update on the water system. They had 7,600 customers out last night, at 1 Am this morning they turned 7,000 back on. They have 600 customers left in area without water including Highway 107, all connecting roads on Highway 107 and 81 south from Taylor Bridge heading towards Erwin including Bumpus Cove and Little Germany. They will start working on getting infrastructure built back for the 600 customers. 
  1. If you did not have water for more then 48 hours you are still under a boil water order.
• Chuck Vest, Mayor of Jonesborough, stated he wanted to say thank you to all the sheriff, firefighters, schools, and outside resources that have come and help with this disaster. 
  1. They will be opening to distribution points in town starting Wednesday. (I will get you that info in the morning)
  2. He also gave a huge thank you to his utility company for all their hard work to get the water back going. 
• Brightridge Jeffrey Dykes gave an update on the electrical grid. South of the river he stated that all the infrastructure is gone. They will have to rebuild the entire grid. They are also looking to see if they can back feed that area from Corby. 
  1. North of the river they have 100 customers left without power
  2. South of the river they have 1,840 customers left without power
  3. They are shooting lines across the river today across Jackson Bridge
  4. They will shoot lines across the river near Taylor Bridge on Thursday.