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BY IVAN SANDERS

CITY OF ELIZABETHTON PIO

With efforts on Saturday focused on search and rescue throughout the county, City of Elizabethton departments were operating full throttle in response to Friday morning’s devastating floods and wind.

City department heads have been working in coordination with the Emergency Operation Center at the Elizabethton/Carter County EMA in responding to the damage left as remnants of Hurricane Helena moved through the region leaving behind a trail of damage in the City of Elizabethton.

“We appreciate the teamwork exhibited by both the city and county along with all the outside agencies that have responded to assist as a result of this crisis,” said Elizabethton City Manager Daniel Estes.

“Our employees have worked tirelessly to get services to our residents restored, but we are still a long way from being finished. We are asking for everyone’s patience as we continue to do so.”

Power outages declined from a high of 12,000 customers on Friday down to approximately 5,500 on Saturday. There was also a system-wide boil water advisory posted on Friday that remains in effect.

The Broad Street Bridge and Elk Avenue Bridge downtown have been closed until TDOT can assess if the bridges were compromised during the flooding.

An emergency shelter has been set up at Elizabethton High School for those who have been displaced and a donation center also has been set up at the Elizabethton Park and Recreation Center at 300 W. Mill Street.

Cleanup and repairs are expected to be ongoing for the next few days as the search and rescue phase is completed.