### Catastrophic Floods Overtake Newport, Tennessee Amid Hurricane Helene's Aftermath

Newport, Tennessee, divided by the Pigeon and French Broad rivers, experienced severe flooding on September 27 as remnants of Hurricane Helene delivered torrential rains to the Southern Appalachians. Within mere hours, both rivers swelled beyond their banks, setting record high levels and flooding roads, buildings, and surrounding areas.

Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball described the situation as troubling for the entire county due to the convergence of the two rivers. As the waters continued to rise, Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis took to Facebook with urgent evacuation orders for downtown Newport, fearing the catastrophic failure of an upstream dam in North Carolina. This dire warning incited a flurry of frantic comments and was widely shared, accumulating nearly 7,000 shares. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service amplified Mathis' alert, sending emergency notifications to area residents.

Contrary to initial reports, the dam was not failing, despite the formidable pressure from the mud-laden floodwaters. Duke Energy, which operates the Walters Dam—also known as Waterville Dam—confirmed that all gates were open and that the dam and floodgates were functioning correctly. Madison McDonald, a spokesperson for Duke Energy, reassured that the structures were performing as expected.

Despite clarifying the dam's integrity, Mathis maintained the evacuation, stating that the rising waters warranted continued caution. By 6 p.m., he reported that water levels were still expected to climb several more feet, urging the evacuation to remain in effect.

The extent of the flooding was substantial. The Pigeon River at Newport saw a dramatic rise to 28.85 feet, surpassing its previous record by nearly 5.5 feet, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Similarly, the French Broad River was forecasted to exceed its flood stage, reaching 20.67 feet by 5:45 p.m., with expectations to near the record high.

In response to the crisis, multiple water rescues were executed in Cocke County. Authorities have opened the Newport Community Center at 433 Prospect Ave. to shelter those displaced by the floods.

Tyler Whetstone, an investigative reporter, contributed to this report.