In the wake of floodwaters that damaged homes and roads on Monday evening employees with the Carter County Highway Department were out in force Tuesday working to clear roads and bridges.

Crews began working immediately during Monday’s storm to clear debris and worked late into the night. On Tuesday morning they were back at it again trying to make sure county residents reach their destinations safely.

According to Carter County Road Superintendent Roger Colbaugh, the damage occurred in Roan Mountain, with heavy damage in the Cove Creek community.

“It got really bad on State Route 143 going through the park and in Cove Creek just above the park,” Colbaugh said. “We’re working trying to get the debris cleaned up and the pipes replaced.”

Several pipes, cross drains, and culverts had washed out as did some roads, Colbaugh said. Stockton Road, off of Cove Creek Road, had a section collapse after the pipe washed out. Crews installed a footbridge on Tuesday so that residents could get in and out while the department waits for a replacement pipe to be delivered so repairs can be made.

Colbaugh said none of the county’s bridges in the community were lost and all appeared to still be in good shape structurally.

On Tuesday work crews were busy cleaning up debris, replacing pipes where they could, removing trees and logs from bridges, and working to shore up sections of the road that had washed out.

Colbaugh said he had the majority of his employees working in Roan Mountain on Tuesday with the department’s heavy equipment as well as some equipment borrowed from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Inmate work crews from the Tennessee Department of Corrections Work Camp in Roan Mountain were also out on Tuesday working to clear debris from roads and bridges.

Carter County Emergency Management Agency Director Gary Smith said he went out Tuesday morning to conduct a preliminary damage assessment. While some homes and businesses in Roan Mountain had some flooding damage, Smith said the worst damage was done to the roads in the area.

“Thank goodness for our Highway Department,” Smith said told the Elizabethton Star on Tuesday. “They have been working their backsides off today.”

One person was rescued from flood waters after their car went into the Little Doe River by members of the Carter County Rescue Squad’s Technical Rescue Team. Smith said he was not aware of anyone else who had to be rescued from vehicles or homes.

Smith praised the work of the highway department, volunteer fire departments, Carter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Carter County Rescue Squad in responding to the flooding on Monday evening.

“All the agencies jumped in there and did what they needed to do to help keep everyone safe,” Smith said.