Local crews to look for missing Helene victim amid federal cleanup of Nolichucky island
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Nearly two years after Helene’s devastation, there is still one person in Washington County, Tennessee who has not been found.
Nancy Tucker's home on Tittle Circle was washed away in the floodwaters. Now, there is renewed hope of finding her and bringing her family closure.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded the debris cleanup contract for Jackson Island on Wednesday, with work set to begin in September.
The island along the Nolichucky River is on land owned by the U.S. Forest Service and is the only place in Washington County that has not yet been searched.
It is about four-and-a-half miles downstream from the home where Nancy Tucker lived with her husband Jimmy. His body was found days after the flood.
Mayor Joe Grandy and other Washington County officials have been talking with the corps for months about finding Tucker.
“That was really the first thing we talked about,” Grandy said. “It's my highest priority.”
A county EMS search crew will be on-site. The goal is to make sure the clean-up is slow enough to effectively search for Tucker.
“Everyone understands clearly that we're going to be out here standing in front of the machines if they're not working at the pace where our recovery people can be sure they are searching every inch of this island,” Grandy said.
It will be a massive task covering 80 acres and expected to take eight months.
It's been a long process. Grandy first met with federal officials nearly a year ago.
“They told us work on clean up would start in December, early December. Apparently, I failed to ask what year that was,” he said.
In a statement, the Army Corps of Engineers said their thoughts remain with the family and community. In addition to working with the county, the Corps said they will have an archeological team and a bone scientist supervising and ready to halt work if Tucker is found.
“When this clean-up is complete, we will be able to look the family in the eyes and say, 'Here's your family member,' or 'She is not on that island,'” Grandy said.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Full Statement:
“As we proceed with debris removal at Jackson Island, our thoughts remain with the families and the community. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working in close, constant coordination with Washington County/Johnson City EMS, the U.S. Forest Service, and our contractor, DRC, to ensure this sensitive operation is conducted with the deepest respect and diligence.
“To prepare for any possibility of a human discovery, we have required our contractor to employ a specialized osteologist alongside a team of dedicated archaeological monitors. This professional team will be physically present at the site to personally oversee all cleanup work.
“These experts are specifically trained to identify potential remains. If any discovery is made, they have the immediate authority to halt all operations within a 100-foot buffer zone. This allows local law enforcement, emergency management, and forensic experts to manage the site safely and respectfully. We stand fully prepared and committed to supporting our local emergency and search and rescue partners should our work transition into a critical recovery mission.”