Waters, Larry, 2020 February 20
This collection consists of both audio and video interviews concerning the Chimney Tops 2 Wildfires in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the Great Smoky Mountains during 2016. Between 2017 and 2022, around 150 interviews were conducted with residents of Gatlinburg, government officials, emergency responders, researchers in various fields, and others impacted by the wildfires.
The interviews in this collection were conducted by the Anna Porter Public Library (APPL) and the University of Tennessee Libraries. APPL recorded audio interviews during 2017, starting a few months after the wildfires. UT Libraries' interviews began in 2019 and continued through 2022 with a mix of both video and audio recordings. Individual narrators are not only residents of Gatlinburg, but also emergency responders, government officials, and researchers exploring the effects of the fire.
Dates
- 2020 February 20
Language of Materials
The material in this collection is in English and Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite, and a minimum of 2 business days are needed to retrieve these items for use. Researchers interested in consulting any of the collections are advised to contact Special Collections.
Extent
From the Collection: In Development Terabytes
Overview
Video interview with Larry Waters, Sevier County Mayor, conducted by Casey Kaufman. Waters provides a brief background about Sevier County and Gatlinburg before discussing the events of the fire. He addresses the needs of a public official during a crisis and how he balanced that with personal concerns for his family. Waters also recounts the efforts following the fire to rebuild the city and bring back the tourism industry.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository