Full Breakdown
Last Missing Hurricane Helene Victim Identified in Tennessee
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Hurricane Helene struck the southeastern United States in late September 2024, making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 storm before moving inland through Georgia, the Carolinas and eastern Tennessee. The storm produced record-breaking rainfall in the southern Appalachians, causing catastrophic flooding and landslides. Federal estimates place total damage at roughly $78.7 billion and the death toll at about 250 people across four states, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Hurricane Center. In Washington County, Tennessee, the floodwaters of the Nolichucky River swept away the home of Nancy and Jimmy Tucker, killing Jimmy and leaving Nancy missing.
Search Efforts and Discovery
For nearly two years, Washington County officials, the local Emergency Management Agency, and federal contractors combed the Cherokee National Forest’s Jackson Island area. Search crews logged more than 400 miles of foot patrols but were hampered by deep debris piles, high water, and restrictions on heavy equipment due to the site’s federal-land status and potential Native American burial sites. In the summer of 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract that allowed debris-removal specialists to begin intensive clearing.
On a Saturday in September 2024, a crew uncovered human remains in the Jackson Island area of the Nolichucky River. Recovery work continued into the following Sunday. The remains were transported to the William Jenkins Forensic Center at East Tennessee State University, where a medical examiner positively identified the individual as Nancy Tucker on the subsequent Monday.
Official Statements & Responses
Washington County Sheriff’s spokesperson Susan Saylor emphasized the department’s commitment, noting that Sheriff Keith Sexton had pledged to locate every missing person from the storm. She asked, “Why would you not want to bring what you could bring to the family, who had already lost a father?”
James Matthews, an operations and public-affairs officer with the county’s Emergency Management Agency, described the moment the identification became clear as an emotional turning point for the responders.
Verbatim Quotes
- “On Saturday, I got the call that I've been waiting for for two years — just four days after the operation began,” — James Matthews
- “Why would you not want to bring what you could bring to the family, who had already lost a father?” — Susan Saylor, spokesperson for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department
- “We stopped. We cried. All of us cried. And we prayed.” — James Matthews
Data & Statistics
- Hurricane Helene caused approximately 250 deaths and $78.7 billion in damages nationwide (NOAA).
- In Tennessee, 18 deaths were linked to the storm, most from floodwaters (National Hurricane Center).
- Search teams logged over 400 miles of foot patrols in the Jackson Island area (Washington County Emergency Management Agency).
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Nancy Tucker’s age at the time of her disappearance. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and several outlets list her as 76 years old, while the Knoxville News report describes her as 78. No official correction has been issued, leaving the precise age unconfirmed.
What’s Next
The medical examiner’s identification has been completed, but authorities have stated that the investigation remains ongoing. Officials indicated that any additional findings from the debris-removal operation will be reported as they become available.