Inclement weather hits region, crews rescue man from river
Published 9:27 pm Monday, October 23, 2017
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Emergency crews responded to a car that was partially submerged in the Little Doe River Monday as inclement weather hit the region. Pictured, James Heaton, left, and John Burleson, right, with Carter County Rescue Squad rescue the individual from the river.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden James Heaton prepares one of the boats before hitting the river.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Emergency crews were monitoring the river throughout the afternoon. Pictured, rising water can be spotted from the Hampton river access.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden A walking trail underneath Elk Avenue Bridge is fully engulfed by water from Monday's rain.
Star Photo/Curtis Carden Rising water flows near Covered Bridge Park.
A burst of rainy conditions hit the region Monday with several areas in Northeast Tennessee experiencing flooding near several roads and waterways.
Emergency crews in Carter County were busy throughout the day, including going through a rescue operation to secure an individual whose vehicle was partially submerged in the Little Doe River Monday afternoon near the 5900 block of US Highway 19E in Hampton.
Carter County Rescue Squad members began the operation approximately 5:30 p.m. with John Burleson and James Heaton used a raft with ropes to rescue the individual, who was sitting out the driver’s side window of the vehicle. Carter County Sheriff’s Office, along with other emergency personnel assisted with the rescue while squad member Jackie Cable anchored the boat back to safety once the mission was successful. The rescue took mere minutes with the crew bringing the unidentified male back to land.
Heaton said the driving was heading northbound on the highway when his vehicle skid due to the wet road, sliding off into the river. The subject was able to walk under his own power but was transported to a local medical facility by ambulance.
According to Heaton, between 12 to 20 personnel assisted with the rescue and that the incident is still under investigation.
Flooding continued to be an issue into the evening hours with Cloudland Elementary School being set up as a shelter for those displaced by the flood water.
Emergency crews were still working throughout the night to address different issues throughout the county.
Heaton, following the rescue, stressed the importance of residents taking extra precaution when driving through inclement weather.
For the days ahead, the region can expect cooler temperatures but less precipitation.
Glenn Carrin, meteorologist with the National Weather Service – Morristown, indicated that the area received between one to two inches worth of rain during the day but precipitation is expected to slow down over the next two days.
Updates from the inclement weather will be provided in upcoming editions of the Elizabethton Star.
