COCKE COUNTY — Flash flooding occurred in parts of Cocke County last weekend, resulting in at least one fatality. Cleanup operations are ongoing in the affected areas.
Empower Cocke County is assembling cleanup buckets containing recovery supplies for residents. Kallie Lister, Program Director for Empower Cocke County, said, "We had a volunteer who had an idea of creating buckets, and we know from Hurricane Helene the supplies that are needed to do those cleanups safely. So, we started building those buckets and filling them full of those supplies, and as Macie Reed, our property assessor, is going out and assessing the properties to assess the damage, she's taking the buckets to each home, each family, to at least give them something to get started with."
Macie Reed is a county property assessor evaluating property damage and distributing cleanup buckets to affected households. Volunteer Becky Miller said, "This one has us defeated, and we're doing what we can. We're not complaining. We do appreciate any assistance. I do beg people, please, ask for help. Don't be stubborn like we have been."
The Cocke County Long Term Recovery Group can be contacted by phone at 865-603-3866 or email at esullivan@ccetn.org.
No independent assessment was available for this report.