Cocke County emergency officials are warning residents to brace for a fast-moving overnight storm that could cut power and litter roads with downed trees in parts of the county. The worst of it is expected to hit communities in the west early Monday, and authorities are urging people to be ready for outages and travel headaches, and to keep an eye on neighbors who might need extra help.
County Post Lays Out Overnight Threat
In a Facebook post Sunday, the Cocke County Emergency Management Agency, in a message posted by Director Joe Esway, urged residents to keep phones fully charged, sign up every household member for Hyper-Reach alerts, and even set an alarm for 2 a.m. to check for new updates. The agency warned that storm impacts along the county’s western border could begin around 3 a.m. Monday, and that power outages are possible.
According to the Cocke County Emergency Management Agency, residents should also check on elderly and disabled neighbors who might not be able to prepare or respond on their own.
How Alerts Will Reach Residents
County officials said emergency information will go out on the agency’s Facebook page, through the county’s Hyper-Reach system, and over local radio stations WLIK (97.9 FM/1270 AM) and WNPC (92.3 FM).
The mass-notification service Hyper-Reach says its platform can deliver Emergency Action Messages by phone, text, and email so urgent notices reach households quickly. Both stations maintain local news and contact pages and regularly serve as broadcast partners when severe weather moves through the area.
What Residents Are Urged To Do Now
Officials recommended several immediate steps: charge cell phones, gather flashlights and essential medications, and avoid being on the road during the peak storm hours overnight. The county again stressed checking in on elderly or disabled neighbors who might need assistance and suggested setting a 2 a.m. alarm so residents can stay current as conditions change.
The National Weather Service in Morristown advises having multiple ways to receive warnings, including NOAA Weather Radio, and urges residents to stay away from downed wires and flooded roads. Any downed power line should be treated as if it were live.
Officials said updates will be posted on the county’s Facebook page and shared over the listed radio partners as the storm unfolds. For the full advisory, contact details, and the Emergency Operations Center location, visit the Cocke County emergency page. New information will also appear on the Cocke County Emergency Management Agency Facebook feed.
