HARTFORD, Tenn. (WVLT) – Just months after devastating flooding brought by Helene, rafting businesses in Hartford are facing another challenge. Wednesday rain flooded I-40 near the North Carolina state line, closing the interstate and stopping access to a major inlet for rafts headed in to the Pigeon River.

Daniel Jannette is the owner of Smoky Mountain Outdoors. He said he was close to the spot on the interstate that flooding overloaded.

“We just had so much rain that it clogged the drainage system, and then it kind of dammed, and then when the water got to a certain level it just broke loose, and that’s what came over the interstate,” he said.

The bad news: Smoky Mountain Outdoors and other companies have lost access to their usual put-in. The silver lining: Jannette said rafters actually got a better experience with the change of plans.

“We were able to shift all of our trips from the upper to the lower,” he said. That route is actually longer than the upper route.

Mark Nagi with the Tennessee Department of Transportation said the agency estimates at least two weeks before the interstate even begins to open back up. That being said, Jannette said TDOT is working with the companies.

“We’re trying to work that out with TDOT to work with the rafting companies to get to the next exit, and they’re doing that,” he said, referring to where that put-in access is.

Jannette said his business is still up and running, like many in the area. He also said the companies are banding together to keep the business afloat during these turbulent times.

“We’ve all pooled our resources and pulled together,” he said.

Copyright 2025 WVLT. All rights reserved.