Seymour escapes worst of flooding

Though torrential downpours plagued much of the greater Knox area over the last weekend, Seymour remained drier than most of the other outlying areas. Superintendent of Roads for Sevier County Jonas Smelcer told The Herald “The county has ‘skated’ for the most part this time around. We had just one culvert that was stopped up due to tree limbs and other debris, but we’ve got that cleared now.” Smelcer remarked that water-borne debris problems were not only common after big rains, but throughout the season. “Often in the winter months you’ll see steep embankments that freeze out and rain will wash small rocks onto the pavement,” he stated, “But we’re in good shape right now all things considered.” A mudslide at the Forest Ridge Luxury Apartments in west Knoxville left one man critically injured, and two West Tennessee children who are missing due to the car they were riding in being swept off the road by flood waters are feared dead. Freezing temperatures accompanying the rain have brought travel to a standstill in northern extremes of the state, and incidents in areas surrounding Knoxville have caused extensive property loss. The Knox County Emergency Management Agency is still tabulating the extent of the damage locally.