Flooding Death Toll Now Eight

The death total from the flooding is now up to eight in East Tennessee. Three have now been confirmed dead in Unicoi County, two in Cocke County, two in Washington County and one in Johnson County. That number could go higher. According to the TBI, as of last night there were still 60 people listed as missing in Carter County, 30 missing in Washington County, 10 in Unicoi County and two in Johnson County. All persons that had been reported as missing in Cocke County have been accounted for.

Jean and Mike Obrist are the two individuals who lost their lives in the flooding in Cocke County. They lived in the area of Goodwater Road and were trying to get out when their vehicle was overcome by flood waters.

In Unicoi County some of those missing or deceased were employees at Impact Plastics. Flood waters came up quick as employees were evacuating. Most employees had left, but some had remained to oversee the evacuation and to preserve some of the company records. By the time those people got out, the flood waters had gotten so deep that one of the trucks trying to get people out, was tipped over by flood waters. Five employees and a contractor are missing from that plant.