NATIONAL​

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FEMA ASSISTANCE

The portal for applying for FEMA aid for damage from Hurricane Helene has been opened on the FEMA website. Go to the site and scroll down to Declared Disasters. Then click Apply - it is a red button. Please be aware that accepting other funds, such as GoFundMe campaigns, could make you ineligible to receive FEMA funds later. 

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​​HOTLINE: FEMA EMERGENCY LODGING

FEMA is offering motel rooms for you and your animals through the Emergency Lodging Assistance Program. FEMA will pay for animal fees taxes and the cost of rooms. Call 1-800-621-3362 or go online at FEMA.gov and fill out the application to receive your lodging voucher.

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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION​

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Jonesborough to assist businesses and residents in the region who were affected by Hurricane Helene. More centers are planned to open in the region in the future.

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SBA’s Customer Service Representatives are available at the Centers to answer questions, assist business

owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an

application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA

Business Recovery Center in advance. The Center will operate as listed below:

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Business Recovery Center (BRC) Washington County

Old Jonesborough Elementary Library

306 Forrest Drive

Jonesborough, TN 37659

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Hours: Mon.-Sun. 7am-7pm

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The disaster declaration covers Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and

Washington counties, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the

SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are

eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Grainger, Hancock, Jefferson, Sevier

and Sullivan in Tennessee; Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey in North

Carolina; Grayson, Scott and Washington in Virginia.

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With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply

for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are

intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA

disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to

your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive

additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

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Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to

disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are

deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay

services.

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The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 2, 2024. The deadline to

return economic injury applications is July 2, 2025.​

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The Cora Brown Fund, administered through the Department of Homeland Security, supports disaster recovery for those survivors with unmet needs that cannot be addressed through other forms of assistance. Contact your local FEMA Regional Director to receive a recommendation for assistance. Call 770-220-5200 or email FEMA-R4-Info@fema.dhs.gov. 

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AMERICAN RED CROSS

The American Red Cross provides immediate resources - please visit their website here.

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STATEWIDE​ - TN​​

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HOTLINE: TEMA CLEANUP

Call 844-965-1386. Muck out, tree service, tarps, debris cleanup. All services are free but not guaranteed due to overwhelming need.

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HOTLINE: MISSING PERSONS

Call 1-800-TBI-FIND. Callers should be prepared to relay as much identifying information as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification, and last known whereabouts. Command Center at Unicoi Middle School. Check in for information or to report missing persons.​​

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AVAILABLE SHELTER IN TENNESSEE

Please visit the state's website here to view a map of locations offering shelter.

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TDOT STORM DAMAGE UPDATES

Click here for updates from the state regarding storm damage, infrastructure/roadway delays, and more.

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BUSINESS RECOVERY

Complete the TN Company Disaster Response Survey here to receive information from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development on Business Disaster Recovery Efforts as it becomes available. 

 

Beware disaster relief scams. Follow this guide of tips to know what to look for.

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FOR EMERGENCY HOLDING OF FINISHED GOODS

Refrigerated or temperature controlled:

• Covenant Transport, Chattanooga, TN – 888-763-5352

• Landstar Systems, Jacksonville, FL – 877-696-4507

• CR England Trucking – 800-453-8826  

 

For non-refrigerated stable goods, email Lynn Tully at lynn.tully@tn.gov or Allison Dover at allison.dover@tn.gov with TNECD to help locate local temporary warehouse openings.

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FOR EMPLOYEES FACING UNEMPLOYMENT

The Regional Director for The TN Department of Labor has opened an American Jobs Center post at the Erwin Town Hall (211 North Main Avenue). This is a manned post and will be available as early as this week. If you cannot make it to the AJC physical location please call 423-224-1800 or 423-610-0222.  

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STARLINK INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

Those impacted by Hurricane Helene and the flooding aftermath can receive 30 days of internet access for free via Starlink. For more info and instructions on how to sign up, click here.

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REGIONAL​

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

​Local United Ways are partnering together to channel all local volunteer opportunities into one location. Please visit the www.volunteer-united.org website to view available volunteer shifts and sign up.

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OTHER REGIONAL SERVICES

SMILE Foster Closet is organizing a mobile clothes closet to drive around the shelters for the children, as well as providing diapers, hygiene items etc for them. 

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Operation BBQ Relief has multiple locations across the region serving hot meals. Check here to see updated located and hours. 

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Coal Miner's Daughter Mercantile in the Johnson City Mall has free women's clothing in all sizes available for those in need.

 

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee is on alert in the eight counties of Northeast Tennessee! If any county shelter or Emergency Management needs food or water, please call Tom Cromie, Operations Director, at 423-794-0448. They are ready to mobilize if needed. Individuals please DO NOT CALL. Instead, use Facebook Messenger for locations for assistance.

 

Tri-Star Counseling is offering free individual therapy sessions for those affected by losses from Helene. Call 423-430-9687 to schedule.​

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East Tennessee Counseling Collaborative is a network of local therapists or practices providing services from $0-30 for those impacted by Hurricane Helene and flooding. For more info and to schedule immediate sessions, click here.​