Just over a week ago, Sept. 27, communities in East Tennessee and all of the Southeast were ravaged by Hurricane Helene, which killed more than 200 people and brought on flooding that swallowed whole towns .
In the first few days of the disaster, millions across the Southeast were left without power, and some counties lost their clean water supply when their treatment plants were damaged. Boil water alerts remain in place in multiple areas and local health departments are cautioning people about health risks from flood waters.
While there’s a long road ahead to restoring normalcy, some things are starting to get better. Gatlinburg is open and welcoming visitors. Here is a look at the state of utilities in East Tennessee counties hardest hit by the hurricane.
Carter County
- Population: 56,356
- County seat: Elizabethton
- Notable communities: Biltmore, Elizabethton, Pine Crest, Roan Mountain State Park and Watauga
- Missing persons, as of Oct. 3: Four
- Death toll, as of Oct. 3: None