BYBEE, TENN. — Cocke County Sheriff CJ Ball identified Teresa Diane Young, 64, as the woman killed during flash flooding in Bybee, Tennessee, on Thursday. Young was taken by swift waters at a home on Highway 160 while attempting to remove something from her vehicle as floodwaters rushed in, leaving her unable to escape.

Emergency calls about the flooding began arriving around 5 a.m., and a 911 call specifically regarding Young was received at approximately 7:30 a.m. First responders recovered her body around 9 a.m. A detective later conducted an investigation and made a positive identification before notifying Young’s family of her death.

Thursday was Young’s birthday. Sheriff CJ Ball expressed condolences, saying, "Our prayers go out to the family during this time of need and request that everyone does the same." He added, "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. We appreciate the support that has already started and look forward to the days ahead."

Rescue operations involved volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, and emergency management agencies. Most rescues were conducted by boat, with people pulled from cars, homes, and the water itself. Cocke County officials requested assistance from neighboring counties and state agencies during the response.

The Cocke County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) began the 'citizen recovery' process and, as of 5 a.m., anticipated it would take several hours to establish dedicated phone lines at its Emergency Operations Center. Those lines are expected to handle damage assessment reporting, health and comfort concerns, and travel conditions.