NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee has announced the Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program, a new $100 million initiative aimed at supporting the health and wellbeing of residents affected by Hurricane Helene. The program is designed to provide immediate financial assistance to several counties that were impacted by the storm. The counties eligible for this assistance include Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington.
Governor Lee emphasized the severity of the hurricane’s impact and the urgent need for immediate relief, stating that federal aid will take time to arrive, and local communities require assistance now to begin recovery efforts. He credited Tennessee’s fiscal conservatism for enabling the state to quickly mobilize resources to aid affected communities.
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The governor has been actively engaged with flood survivors, emergency personnel, and local law enforcement officials in Northeast Tennessee to assess the most pressing needs. Essential tasks identified include the removal of hazardous debris and the repair of critical water and wastewater systems. The destruction caused by the hurricane is beyond the financial capacity of local governments, which cannot afford to wait for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements.
The HEAL Program will allocate $35 million specifically to repair water and wastewater systems, which have suffered extensive damage in many counties and complete destruction in others. These utilities are vital for the health and safety of residents and the emergency responders working to rebuild the affected areas. An additional $65 million will be distributed equally among economically at-risk and distressed counties to facilitate the removal of dangerous debris.
Counties eligible for this relief can opt-in for no-interest loans funded by TennCare Shared Savings. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) will be responsible for the distribution of these funds to ensure they reach the communities in need.
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Tennessee Guardsmen Assist in Flood Recovery
Following severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, nearly 600 Tennessee National Guardsmen are participating in recovery efforts in East Tennessee, focusing on debris clearance, logistics, and supply distribution across several counties. Task Force Aviation has been crucial in rescue and supply airlifts, while engineering units are engaged in clearing roads and rebuilding infrastructure. All operations are coordinated by the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center.