By Jessica Greene, Tribune Correspondent

The woman who lost her life during Thursday morning’s flash flooding in Cocke County has been identified as Teresa Diane Young, 64, of Bybee.

Cocke County Sheriff C.J. Ball released Young’s identity Friday after family members had been notified. According to Ball, Young was at her residence and attempting to remove something from her vehicle when rapidly rising floodwaters overtook the area.

“She was in the process of trying to remove something from her vehicle when the waters came in so fast that she could not get away in time,” Ball said in a statement

The call was received by Cocke County 911 dispatchers at approximately 7:33 a.m. Thursday. First responders from multiple agencies responded to the scene as floodwaters surged through portions of the Bybee and Parrottsville communities. Young’s body was recovered around 9 a.m.

The death marked the most tragic outcome of a day that saw swift-water rescues, road closures and widespread flooding across parts of northwest Cocke County. Several inches of rain fell in a matter of hours, causing creeks and smaller waterways to overflow their banks and inundate roads, bridges and private property.

Sheriff Ball expressed condolences to Young’s family and others affected by the flooding.
“Our prayers go out to the family during this time of need and request that everyone does the same,” Ball said. “This is a sad day for Cocke County, and we also ask for prayers for all of our victims that were involved in yesterday’s flooding.”

Emergency crews spent much of Thursday conducting rescues and responding to flooded homes and stranded motorists. County officials said neighboring counties and state agencies assisted local responders as they worked throughout the day.

While many roadways had reopened by Thursday evening, officials continued urging residents to avoid areas where water remains over roadways and to use caution as cleanup efforts continue.

The flooding came less than two years after Hurricane Helene brought devastating flood damage to portions of Cocke County, serving as another reminder of how quickly East Tennessee waterways can become dangerous during heavy rainfall.