During a 48 hour period when the Nolichuckey River reached record heights, 911 received over 800 emergency calls. They also took over 2,000 alarm and non-emergency calls. 911 radio communications logged over 4,400 transmissions between emergency responders. All five dispatch stations were in use, with each station double staffed.
Dispatcher Rachel Street took a call from a 18-year-old who had gotten stuck inside her car at Old Fort Lane near Earnest Bridge. Street sent out the call for the Greeneville Emergency and Rescue Squad and Tusculum Volunteer Fire Department, then remained on the phone with the girl for another 30 minutes trying to keep her calm while the water kept rising.
Street said the girl told her the water was rising so fast she was afraid to exit the car. The windows also would not go down, and she could not get the door open due to the pressure of the rushing waters.
The girl described to Street how the water was at her knees, then at her waist, then at her shoulders, then at her chin. Volunteers with Tusculum were able to reach the car and rescue the girl with just minutes to spare.
Dispatcher Traci Fanny said that a dispatcher’s last contact with callers is usually when first responders arrive on the scene, and they are often left wondering the outcome. Fanny said that lack of closure is the hardest part of her job.
The daytime shift on Friday included Traci Fanny, Rachel Street, Kalie Douthat, and Lisa Stevenson. The night shift consisted of Kevin Ayers, Susan Hipshire, Alexie Hudson, and Hunter Christy.
Other dispatchers that came in to assist included Jon Waddell, Tina McClain, Sarah Honeycutt, and Sarah Justice. 911 Director Jerry Bird was on site and Carla Combs handled administrative calls.
