Maranda Faris

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Search teams canvassed the woods surrounding a home on Short Road in Chester County throughout the afternoon and night Thursday, into the early hours Friday morning, in hopes of finding a missing 2-year-old boy.

Noah Israel Chamberlin was walking in the woods with his grandmother and 4-year-old sister when his grandmother lost sight of him, authorities said.

Tom Mapes, spokesman for the Madison County Sheriff's Office, said the search has continued into the early hours Friday morning, with additional search teams returning to the woods behind Noah's home. Mapes said that additional search teams will reenter the woods with four-wheelers and crews on foot will go side-by-side through the area, beginning where Noah was last seen.

Mapes said that Noah, his grandmother, and sister had stopped in the woods before he went missing.

"They sat down to talk and she was paying attention to the granddaughter, and when she turned around he was gone," said Tom Mapes, the spokesman for the Madison County Sheriff's Office. "She immediately went to look for him."

Noah's grandmother notified the Chester County Sheriff's Office at 1:19 p.m. of her missing grandson. Mapes said the Madison County Sheriff's Office was then called to assist in the search. The search was still ongoing after 10 p.m. Thursday.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an endangered child alert for Noah, who is described as white, about 2 feet tall and 25 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt and blue jeans. Noah was last seen going into the woods behind his house in the 1800 block of Short Road in Pinson. If you have seen Noah call the Chester County Sheriff’s Office at (731) 989-2787 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Deputies and investigators with Madison County Sheriff's Office, crews from the Madison County Fire Department, and officers from McNairy and Hardin counties have been assisting since the search began. Helicopters from both the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Jackson Police Department, as well as K-9 units from a neighboring county and search and rescue teams have also been assisting.

More than 100 people have assisted in the search, including some on four-wheelers and on horseback.

Noah's disappearance is not considered suspicious, Mapes said.

Chester County Sheriff Blair Weaver said Noah was last seen behind his home, near the Chester and Madison County line. Mapes said the search area is roughly 600 acres, but Noah is believed to still be near where he was last seen close to his house.

The woods surrounding the house are filled with creeks and rough terrain, Mapes said. Some paths are present throughout the woods.

Authorities said if the search continues overnight, they are concerned about early morning rain and colder temperatures.

Follow jacksonsun.com for further updates.