The Greene County Highway Department and Greeneville Public Works have dealt with a disaster that came in two waves. First, high winds that were sustained most of the day Thursday and Friday coupled with flash flooding. Then the sustained damage along the river.
In all, Greene County Road Superintendent Kevin Swatsell estimated that county road crews had to clear over 150 roads in Greene County. The work began with cutting trees that blew down with the strong winds as Helene moved over the area. In many instances those trees were tangled with electrical lines, which in some cases were still live and dangerous.
As the river began to rise, the troubles turned to closing water covered areas and shutting down bridges before they collapsed. Since then, Swatsell said clearing debris, mud, and sand from roadways has been the biggest challenge. Mud left behind is several feet deep in some places, and is still wet and sticky and slick.
Remaining road closures for the county include Brown’s Bridge Road, which sustained a slide along the river side; Little Indian Creek Road which was blocked by a house that had washed into the roadway; Poplar Springs Road where the bridge washed out, the Old Asheville Highway/Bird’s Bridge Road which remains closed pending inspection of that bridge; Pates Hill Road, where a large area of debris and erosion occurred, and a portion of G’Fellers Road that runs along the river.
While the mud covered roadways were cleared of the thick mud, they remain dusty, and any rains we get could cause some very slick areas. The forecast, however, only calls for a 20% chance of rain on Friday and then sunny days for the next week.
