40+ homes and businesses impacted by emergency flash flooding in Tennessee

TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. — Tellico Plains is collecting water, cleaning supplies, gloves and shovels for Copperhill, as a community moves into recovery after experiencing damaging flash flooding. Tellico Plains Mayor Marilyn Parker said the first load is expected to go to Copperhill next week, with more help to follow. Tellico Plains is about an hour north of Copperhill.

Previous floods in Tellico Plains Tellico Plains experienced flooding in 2021 and 2023, and Parker said recovery will be a long process and that some people could still be cleaning up and rebuilding a year from now after the recent flood. Parker said water donations are especially important because flooding can disrupt water service, and it can take time to make sure the water is safe to drink again. “So water is going to be a big plus for quite a while,” Parker said.

“And even when they can get it started, there’s going to be a time period where they’re going to have to make sure it’s safe drinking water. So water is a big thing.” Parker added that Tellico Plains received help after its floods, but recovery still took months.

“Instantly, everybody jumps in and wants to help.

Summary of the outlet's own feed. From WVLT (Knoxville), November 7, 2026.