Video of a heroic rescue by a Tennessee state trooper during the flooding from Hurricane Helene has emerged. Even after being rescued herself, the trooper, identified as Hannah Smathers, immediately went back to work to assist another stranded individual in need.
Jason Pack, a former FBI special agent and currently serving as the director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, recounted the courageous actions of Trooper Smathers during the Hurricane Helene calamity in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Pack said Smathers was finishing a crash report from the previous shift when dispatch received a call to assist with checking flood-prone roadways.
“While I was working on a crash report in the office, a call came in asking for assistance in checking the roads for flooding in Unicoi,” shared Smathers during an installment of the “Hurricane Helene Heroes” series. “This kind of request is quite common during severe weather conditions. They specifically needed me to inspect Spivey Mountain Road, so I immediately headed in that direction and arrived promptly.”
Newport, Tennessee was one of many communities impacted by Hurricane Helene flooding. (Snowbird Mountain Coffee Co.)
Once Smathers gathered herself and was safe, she quickly jumped back into action, soaked and covered in mud.
“Once I got out, I saw another driver had broken his ankle,” Smathers explained. “So I helped carry him to safety too.”
Smathers stayed on shift for the next 18 hours, despite being trapped earlier and still filthy from her own rescue, saying she did it “because it’s what we do.”
“What I went through was nothing compared to what some people lost that day,” Smathers said.
“I know sometimes it sounds cliché when people say they just want to help others,” she continued. “But that’s really what this job is about. Helping people. Making sure they’re safe. That’s all I was trying to do that day.”
Col. Matt Perry of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said her actions that day represent all troopers.
“Trooper Smathers showed exactly what we expect from the Highway Patrol troopers – calm under pressure and a heart for service,” Perry said. “She didn’t ask for attention. She just got the job done.”
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long also praised Smathers and said “her actions are a reflection of what our troopers do every day, often without recognition.”
“What Trooper Smathers did that day exemplifies the dedication our state troopers bring to their communities,” Long said. “She showed courage, humility, and heart. Whether in a flood, a crash scene, or a routine patrol, our troopers are out there every day making Tennessee safer.”
Hurricane Helene created billions of dollars worth of damage when it destroyed homes, farms and critical infrastructure like roads, bridges and power lines. Parts of highways connecting North Carolina and Tennessee have been closed since late September.
More than 100 people died as a result of the hurricane in North Carolina alone, and the total death count is more than 230 across six states, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
