Greeneville without water due to storm damage

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the Camp Creek Volunteer Fire Department address and add information on a filling station in Greeneville.

GREEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The pumping station that supplies water to the majority of Greene County was damaged due to Hurricane Helene, leaving thousands in the county without water.

“There’s no water in the Greeneville water system,” Greeneville Mayor Cal Doty said.

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Doty spent Sunday evening with volunteers handing out cases of water at the Greeneville Municipal Airport. The airport will continue to be a water distribution point from 3-5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Traffic will need to come in from Highway 11E to the Baileyton Access Ramp to Whitehouse Road to Airport Road, according to the Greene County EMA.

He said the plan is to install new pumps, but that process could take time. The goal is to get residents water back within the next week, according to Doty. However, that timeframe could be shorter or longer depending on several circumstances.

“There’s eight pumps coming in that will be put into the river as soon as we get down there,” Doty said. “Because of the flood, there’s sludge and other things where they’re having to try to get down to the pump house.”

Greeneville City Manager Todd Smith said volunteers from across the region are working tirelessly to provide Greeneville with water.

“We looked at the videos of all the destruction and devastation we saw on Friday and Saturday, and you think you’re defeated,” Smith said. “Today, you see the people come out and support the community and you know that you’ve won.”

As the process to restore water continues, Doty reminded residents to stay patient.

“We are where we are, so be kind to your neighbors,” Doty said.

The Greeneville/Greene County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security listed five places as water distribution sites:

• Marathon at Erwin Highway, 3685 Erwin Highway, Greeneville, TN

• Camp Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 700 Greystone Road, Greeneville, TN

• South Greene High School, 7469 Asheville Highway, Greeneville, TN

• Caney Branch Volunteer Fire Department, 11423 Newport Highway, Greeneville, TN

• SCEPTER, 1230 Pottertown Road, Greeneville, TN

• The Greeneville Municipal Airport, 246 Airport Road, Greeneville, TN

Those choosing the airport location will need to come in from Highway 11E, to Baileyton Access Ramp, to Whitehouse Road onto Airport Road.

A Greeneville Police Department Officer will check your identification for Greene County residency at Whitehouse Road and Airport Road. If you recently moved to Greene County and don’t have a new identification showing residency, you need to provide a utility bill showing your service address in Greene County.

The sites will be in operation each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise advised.

The Greeneville Water Commission will open its water plant from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday allowing community members to fill up containers with water.

The commission said they will fill up to 20 gallons per person at its water plant (2815 Buckingham Road, Greeneville).

“Although this is treated water we do not know how sterile everyone’s containers are,” a post from the Greeneville Water Commission stated. “We recommend this be used for bathing and toilet flushing. If used for drinking, please boil water for 3 to 5 minutes prior to drinking.”

Anyone who needs water delivered to them due to physical disabilities or a condition that prevents them from leaving their home can call the EMA office at 423-620-8775 or 423-620-8409.

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