Mike and Jean Obrist die in fatal Newport flooding incident
Mike and Jean Obrist die in fatal Newport flooding incident
Fatal Newport flooding death of Mike and Jean Obrist – Obituary
Mike and Jean Obrist, a couple from East Tennessee, tragically lost their lives while attempting to flee from severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene late Friday night. According to Sheriff CJ Ball, the couple’s car was overwhelmed by the rapidly rising waters as they tried to evacuate their home.
The flooding was marked by two significant surges, the first occurring around 3 p.m. in downtown Newport, which prompted many residents to evacuate. The second surge, arriving after midnight on Saturday, proved to be disastrous for the Obrists, as water surged toward their home in Cocke County.
Neighbors reported that the couple, alongside their daughter, tried to escape in their vehicle as the waters rapidly encroached upon them. Gene Poland, a neighbor and member of the Cocke County Rescue Squad, stated, “Within moments of them trying to escape, the water was above the car.” While the couple’s daughter managed to escape the vehicle, Mike and Jean were unable to get out in time. Neighbor Eric Turner discovered their bodies hours later, expressing disbelief and sorrow at the tragedy.
Friends and neighbors described the Obrists as friendly and self-sufficient individuals who had relocated to East Tennessee from Alaska. Their sudden passing has left the community in mourning. “This is like a million-year flood because you can’t bring them back now,” Turner lamented.
The flooding incidents were exacerbated by two dams that failed to handle the excess water. The Obrists were among eight reported storm-related fatalities in Tennessee, which also includes deaths in Knox County, Unicoi County, Johnson County, and Washington County. As of Monday afternoon, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported that 100 individuals were still unaccounted for.
Mike and Jean Obrist die in fatal Newport flooding incident Fatal Newport flooding death of Mike and Jean Obrist – Obituary Mike and Jean Obrist, a couple from East Tennessee, tragically lost their lives while attempting to flee from severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene late Friday night. According to Sheriff CJ Ball, the…
Mike and Jean Obrist die in fatal Newport flooding incident Fatal Newport flooding death of Mike and Jean Obrist – Obituary Mike and Jean Obrist, a couple from East Tennessee, tragically lost their lives while attempting to flee from severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene late Friday night. According to Sheriff CJ Ball, the…