Downtown Newport ordered to evacuate after Waterville Dam fails

Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis is urging people to "relocate immediately" if they are near water and to not drive into water.

Stay informed about what's happening in East Tennessee. Find the latest news, weather and sports on our website and social media:

[AlessiaBlue]

Please don’t forget your senior neighbors and animals who can’t help themselves 💝

[marktwain]

This is very disturbing to see. Water is not your friend this month and we are sending prayers from Canada to y'all.

[darlenemc]

Heartbreaking! I'm so so sorry. I'm praying for your safety

[charleslanphier]

Thousands of old dams and bridges are approaching failure due to lack of maintenance. Some states don't even do regular inspections. Texas has four inspectors for the entire state. Louisiana has none.

[Imnotyourdoormat]

*_When its own buoyancy floated the Propane Tank up off the ground it ripped it from its foundational fixtures and plumbing evacuating the gas held within. If the flooding gets too severe or prolonged it can unearth and "FLOAT" the buried Gasoline and Diesel Tanks right up out of the ground._*

[RiZenAsH]

Also a section of I-40 going east into NC has washed away.

[blacknight]

😮 horrible! Praying for everyone!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[AnnaJohnson-dh]

Omg, I’ve never seen anything like this in my life, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee. I am praying for the people.❤

[bigtipper]

The main footage they should be showing is the camera's at the dam. They knew they needed that spillway open.

[jonesy]

glad I finally found a news station where you can understand the news men and women

[tarnocdoino]

In Buffalo praying for you all. Just visited 3 weeks ago. Beautiful country, and warm people.

[mikeharrington]

Conflicting reports on Waterville Dam. After reports of its failure it has subsequently been reported that the flooding is from the opened spillway, not the dam itself. Confusing.

[diggerduckaussie]

Tell them to take their animals with them, dont leave ya animals to drown.

[davidlaney]

put where Newport is...there are about a dozen Newport's in the country...

[mickkc]

I 40 will be closed a long time. It collapsed 😮

[zombiasnow]

Dear Lord GOD help the people of Tennessee Prayers from CANADA

[studiohost]

Engineers are not surprised nor are the local road commissioners

[jamescox]

It's nice to know that infrastructure money
All the states got didn't go to anything important like dams

[josephwalden]

Sell that extra water to western states.

[Lynore_Marie]

Praying 🙏🏻 for my Tiny Town friends in Newport, and everyone affected by this tragic event.