LAFOLLETTE, TN. (WLAF) – “As Campbell Countians continue picking up their lives after Friday’s devastating floods, it is critical that everyone report their damage to TEMA.  I can’t stress this enough,” said Sen. Ken Yager.  

  The senator was already scheduled to be in La Follette for Saturday’s Woodson’s 100 year celebration, and after the celebration, he toured the damaged areas following Friday’s catastrophic event.

TOP PHOTO:  Floods exposed water lines that are buried three-feet deep.

 He applauded the teamwork of emergency personnel, road and street department crews, police and sheriff’s deputies, utility crews and others for their outstanding efforts in pulling everyone through the immediate crisis.  However,  Yager said, “Now is the time for flood victims to report their damage and have it assessed by TEMA so we can get those numbers as high as we can, because we know that it is a high number.”  A certain threshold has to be met or if it is a big enough claim, and that number will then be passed on to Gov. Bill Lee so he can ask for a disaster declaration for federal assistance.

Yager met with TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan on Monday and talked about the damage assessment here in Campbell County.  Reports of damage are coming in, but it is imperative that everyone with damage call in to 423.562.4961.  The hours to call are from 7:30 am until 5 pm.

La Follette City Administrator Jimmy Jeffries said that as of Tuesday afternoon, more than 200 flood victims had reported damage.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/12/2019-6 AM)