The towns of Boyd's Creek, Kimberlin Heights, Kodak, Sevierville and Seymour were at particular risk of flooding from the French Broad River. At the flooded Deerfield Mobile Home Park, the county EMA is allowing residents to return to gather their belongings. Residents must check in and out with law enforcement officials on site, Ayres said.

Bluestone Dam, the 75-year-old Summers County flood control project, may well have saved Charleston and other downriver communities from catastrophic flooding from the epic rainfall produced by Hurricane Helene.

A record amount of water is rushing through the power turbines and spillways of Douglas Dam. Normally at this time of year, the dam would be drawn down to get ready for the wet winter season, but Helene changes all of those plans for TVA and Douglas Dam is at full pool.