Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration has been approved, providing recovery assistance to eight counties in Northeast Tennessee affected by severe flooding. The declaration includes Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. Damage assessments are ongoing, and further requests for federal aid may follow.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering several forms of assistance, including Public Assistance, Individual Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Grants, and Direct Federal Assistance. This aid aims to support the recovery efforts of survivors and communities in the affected areas.
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Governor Lee expressed gratitude for the federal support, emphasizing the importance of these resources in the rebuilding process. TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan also highlighted the critical need for a survivor-centered response to ensure smooth recovery efforts.
Residents in the declared counties can apply for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program online here or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available to assist. Eligible individuals may receive aid for rental assistance, home repair, personal property replacement, and other disaster-related losses. Detailed information about FEMA’s Individual Assistance program can be found here.
Starting September 26, heavy rainfall and flooding affected most areas of Northeast Tennessee, resulting in nine fatalities and considerable damage. Ongoing updates and resources for survivors are available on the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency website.
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Tennessee Guardsmen Aid in Flood Rescue Efforts
The Tennessee National Guard is working with state and local emergency responders to perform rescue operations in East Tennessee following severe flooding from Hurricane Helene. The efforts include aerial and ground rescue missions, with the use of Blackhawk helicopters and tactical vehicles, to evacuate individuals and assess damage. The operations are coordinated through the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center, with ongoing efforts to restore critical infrastructure.