The City of Newport is still submerged following a flood from the Pigeon River on Friday.

As night fell, alarms from local businesses continued to blare while downtown was overwhelmed with water. Residents in the area are in shock over the extensive damage.

“I’ve never witnessed anything like this. Even my mother and grandmother, who are in their 60s and 70s, have never experienced it,” said Newport resident Shannon Stewart. “I spoke to many people earlier at Rankn Bridge; there were at least 15 propane tanks and a whole portable building floating down the river.”

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As the floodwaters rapidly engulfed downtown, officials had to act swiftly regarding evacuations.

“Downtown Newport is entirely submerged,” stated Cocke County Sheriff C.J. Ball. “We completed the evacuation of the Cocke County Jail Annex, the old jail, and the courthouse. Everything downtown was cleared out quickly. We managed to transfer all inmates to facilities in Sevier County and Jefferson County.”

Shannon Stewart mentioned that the extent of the damage could mean it takes years to rebuild.

“You never expect something like this to happen in a small town,” he remarked. “Sure, Newport has experienced flooding before, but it’s never been this severe. This is truly catastrophic. It’s going to set us back for quite some time.”

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Agencies from several counties have arrived in the Newport area to offer their support, which Sheriff Ball greatly appreciates.

“We can’t thank them enough. The resources pouring in are crucial, especially since Unicoi County is also facing significant challenges,” Sheriff Ball stated. “Law enforcement from all over East Tennessee, even as far as Nashville, has reached out to help us, along with Hamilton County and Chattanooga. The level of support we’ve received is truly remarkable, but our main priority is getting to those who need to be rescued.”

The Harris campaign has been largely silent on the devastation facing Tennesseans.   They have remained focused on Harris’ photo op appearance at the southern border as well as the airplane banner she is stated to have hired to be flown over the Georgia/Alabama football game later today.