Flash Report #17 Hurricane Helene

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Today, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced the Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program, a $100 million fund to directly serve the health and wellbeing of Tennesseans in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
  • Counties eligible for assistance include Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
  • The HEAL Program will help counties start work on debris removal and water and wastewater systems repairs.
• The Tennessee Department of Revenue is providing four tax relief measures for Tennessee businesses and individuals affected by Hurricane Helene.
• As you begin cleaning up debris, ensure it is separated properly. Find Debris Removal Guidelines on TEMA's website.
• Water and wastewater infrastructure remain impacted across the affected area and multiple boil water advisories remain in effect.
• Requests from state and local partners are being fulfilled through the State Emergency Operations Center.
• Emergency Services Coordinators (ESCs) from TDOT, TDCI, TDH, THP, TN Department of Human Services, TN Department of Military, and more are monitoring and responding to the situation to provide assistance to local jurisdictions.
• There are 17 confirmed fatalities as of this report.

CURRENT SITUATION

Today, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee introduced the Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program, a $100 million fund to directly serve the health and wellbeing of Tennesseans in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Eligible counties may opt-in for the no-interest loans to start work on the removal of dangerous debris and repairs to water and wastewater utilities. Counties eligible for assistance include Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.

Without the HEAL Program, the counties eligible for FEMA's Public Assistance program would need to utilize county funds from the beginning of recovery to fund removal, repair, and infrastructure projects and then apply for federal reimbursement. For some local jurisdictions, the damage is too extensive and expensive to cover the cost of repairs up front and wait for FEMA reimbursement. Read more on the HEAL Program here.

Additional resources for survivors, including more information about the Multi-Agency Resource Center locations, Disaster Hotline (423) 830-2696, and the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center can be found on TEMA's dedicated Helene webpage.

MULTI-AGENCY RESOURCE CENTERS

Two Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) have opened for individuals affected by Hurricane Helene. Each MARC will be staffed with personnel from FEMA and other federal, state, and regional partners to ensure residents have access to all available resources following the flooding event. Eligible individuals in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) at a MARC location, if preferred.

MARC Locations:

Elizabethton

1749 HWY 19E

Elizabethton, TN 37643

Jonesborough

306 Forest Dr.

Jonesborough, TN 3765

The MARCs will be open 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET, Monday - Saturday. On Sunday, MARCs will be open 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. ET.

Those eligible for FEMA's IA program can also apply for direct assistance online anytime or by phone at 1-800-621 3362. Multilingual operators are available. Individuals may receive help with rental assistance, home repair, and personal property replacement, in addition to other uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. More information on FEMA's IA program can be found here.

To date, FEMA has validated 5,688 registrations for Individual Assistance.

WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITIES

• Several wastewater treatment plants have been impacted or are reporting problems due to flooding impact:
  • Hamblen County, Lowland Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • Johnson County, Mountain City Wastewater Treatment Plant
  • Unicoi County, Erwin Utilities Authority
• As of Oct. 10, 17 drinking water facilities have reported operational issues. Of those, 11 facilities have issued boil water advisories. If you have lost water or have a loss of water pressure, check with your water system for more information and recommended actions.

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

• The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) issued a Mandatory Water Conservation Order for Upper East Tennessee. Read TDEC's full release on their website.
• TDEC has issued a temporary water contact advisory telling the public to avoid all contact with all bodies of water affected by the extreme flooding. Read TDEC's full release on their website.
• For more information about Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's response to Hurricane Helene, visit their webpage.

TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

As of Thursday, Oct. 10, there are 4 active leads that TBI is coordinating with local law enforcement response. Please note, this number does not represent the total of unaccounted individuals, just public leads that still need to be cleared.

• Cocke County: 1
• Greene County: 3

SHELTERING LOCATIONS

Local jurisdictions and the American Red Cross are managing shelters in impacted areas. For the most up to date shelter locations, visit TEMA's website.

TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL

• THP is providing assistance with traffic, welfare, searches, and other law enforcement responsibilities in response to flooding and damage in the affected counties.
• THP is delivering commodities to survivors.
• THP is collaborating with TBI to assist with reunification.
• North Carolina has closed I-40 at the state line.

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

• The Tennessee Department of Health has confirmed 17 weather-related fatalities.
  • Two in Cocke County
  • One in Greene County
  • One in Knox County
  • One in Johnson County
  • Eight in Unicoi County
  • Four in Washington County
• Local Health Departments are offering free vaccinations for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. For more information, including locations, read the TN Department of Health's full release.
• A Citizen Information Hotline is available at 423-979-4689, available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET for questions related to flood safety.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for Tennessee to aid uninsured residents in replacing prescription medicines or certain medical equipment lost or damaged due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Learn more about the EPAP program here.

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Tennessee Department of Revenue is providing four tax relief measures for Tennessee businesses and individuals affected by Hurricane Helene. For more information about the tax relief efforts, read Gov. Lee's full release.

TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

• TDOT is continuing to work to improve connectivity and make infrastructure repairs in Upper East Tennessee.
• There is a webpage dedicated for storm updates. TDOT will provide daily updates on progress during the critical recovery period. You can access the page here: Hurricane Helene Recovery (tn.gov).
• Before you go out, check road conditions on TDOT's SmartWay website.

PROTECTIVE ACTIONS/KEY MESSAGES

• If you are suffering a mental health crisis, call or text 988.
• Apply for FEMA Individual Assistance:online anytime or by phone at 1-800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET.
• Individuals may be eligible for FEMA's Serious Needs Assistance, an upfront, flexible payment of $750 to help cover essential items while survivors are assessed for Individual Assistance eligibility. For more information about Serious Needs Assistance, visit FEMA's website.
• The Crisis Clean-Up Hotline (844) 965-1386 has been established for survivors who need assistance with clean-up efforts. This service is at no cost to the survivors who are requesting assistance. The hotline will be available until Oct. 25.
• The Disaster Hotline, (423) 830-2696, has been established to serve as a unified regional hotline.
• The Tennessee Attorney General's Division of Consumer Affairs reminds Tennesseans to be cautious and wary of disaster relief scams.You can find helpful tips on their website.
• Do not enter damaged buildings or hazardous locations.
• Hire only licensed contractors and do not pay the total amount before the work is complete. More tips for consumers can be found here.
• Restoring your ability to communicate is a critical priority. Always call 811 before you dig.
• Report down or cut power lines and stay clear of the area.
• If your house or property sustained damage, take pictures before cleanup efforts and contact your insurance company. TDCI's Complaint Line for insurance: (615) 741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
• Do not self-deploy to assist impacted areas. Wait for local officials to issue guidance.
• Do not attempt to cross flooded roads or walkways. Turn around, don't drown.
• Contact your local emergency management agency if you need immediate assistance.

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