Nine people dead, 23 missing and East Tennessee still in recovery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – Nine people are dead and 23 people are still missing as East Tennessee continues to fully recover from last week’s devastating flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

Gov. Bill Lee, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and other state officials met Wednesday to discuss the state’s efforts to help those in need.

During the last inspection, TEMA found that the flood had damaged 1,600 buildings and houses. Of these, 120 were destroyed and 313 were seriously damaged.

“We are making an effort to focus on survivors,” said Governor Lee. “This all-department response is focused on survivors. East Tennesseans need response and cooperation. They are getting it and we have a long way to go. We are hopeful, committed and very concerned. significant response and there is a lot of work to be done.

How you can help

If you sit here in Middle Tennessee and feel a great deal of empathy for your neighbors to the east, you can help.

Both the East Tennessee Foundation and the Middle Tennessee Community Foundation will accept donations through the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund.

Bristol Motor Speedway has offered to partner with the state to create a disaster relief center in East Tennessee. TEMA said they would accept

donations of groceries and bottled water.

TEMA said they would put all donations there.

In a week, East Tennessee will need help with cleanup and garbage collection.

If you’re going to East Tennessee

Tennessee Department of Transportation workers assessed hundreds of roads and bridges to determine the extent of the damage.

TDOT officials said they expect hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and months of closures.

Of the 13 bridges that were closed, seven have reopened. The reopening of roads will also take place after the closure of 48 sections of national roads. Twenty-five have since reopened.

Here are the five bridges that were destroyed:

• Nolichucky River Bridge SR-81 in Washington County
• Bridge over the Nolichucky River in Washington County SR-353
• Greene County SR-107 Nolichucky River Bridge
• Interstate 26 bridge at 39.6 miles east and west

TDOT removed 58 loads of debris while cleaning the interstate.

If you still can’t reach the person you love

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has established a hotline to coordinate missing person reports in areas affected by recent flooding in Northeast Tennessee.

Persons wishing to report missing persons believed to be in affected areas in East Tennessee can contact 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).

If you call, you should be prepared to provide as much identifying information as possible.

This includes names, telephone numbers, vehicle identification and last known whereabouts.

TEMA said it had to ask the community for Spanish translators. TEMA director Patrick Sheehan said they are also in contact with a Mexican consultant and Mexican nationals to ensure reunification efforts.

A timeline for asking the federal government for help

Sheehan said a week ago that the State of Tennessee was talking to Tennessee emergency management directors about the effects of Hurricane Helene.

On Thursday, TEMA conducted a statewide weather briefing and declared a state of emergency based on the forecast. TEMA said it had notified emergency managers and the public that residents living along rivers may witness flooding.

“Imagine anticipating a reaction you couldn’t imagine,” Lee said. “Nobody imagined it could be at the level it was. The Nolichuckty River was flowing with 168 times more water than normal. No one could imagine the flow of this river. Once we have learned and analyzed a lot, it will be possible to learn a lot and analyze it and that will be the end. It was an unprecedented event.”

When rains and flooding began on Friday, Governor Lee requested federal assistance.

Lee said the federal response was quick and federal reimbursements were readily available.

TBI investigation into plastics plant

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating Impact Plastics in Erwin, where people died.

In reports to the Knoxville News Sentinel, people working at the plant said they were told they were not allowed to leave the plant as flood waters began to appear.

When workers were told they were finally allowed to leave the plant, some of them died trying to escape.

Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at [email protected]

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