WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Over a year has passed since Hurricane Helene struck the Tri-Cities region, resulting in fatalities, demolishing bridges, and devastating homes.
On September 27, 2024, Jeff Keeling, a News Channel 11 correspondent, headed to Greene County. His goal was to meet with the Emergency Management Agency and subsequently check out the Nolichucky Dam.
As the day unfolded, Jeff encountered increasing challenges returning to Johnson City. Several hours later, while on one side of the river in Washington County, he and a group of people realized that crossing was impossible because the bridges in either direction had been swept away.
A trip planned for just a few hours turned into an overnight stay in the flood-stricken areas. Despite the circumstances, Jeff continued conducting interviews and talking with flood victims and survivors.
Eventually, Jeff had to abandon his vehicle and proceed on foot, crossing the Jackson Bridge, which was still intact, as locals took it upon themselves to clear the way.
You can hear Jeff’s retelling of the events in the video above.
