Federal, state and local teams are working together to provide housing and other assistance to survivors of Tropical Storm Helene in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

Key Messages

• Survivors who need extra time to apply for FEMA assistance have until Friday, March 7. Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to midnight ET and specialists speak many languages.
• FEMA, with support from Tennessee, has begun providing temporary housing units – including travel trailers and mobile homes – to survivors in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. Nine families have moved into temporary homes, with more ready to take up residence in the coming weeks.
• FEMA may assist with the purchase or repair of certain accessibility-related items for your damaged home, even if the item was not installed before the disaster. Items may include an exterior ramp, paved path and grab bars.

Help FEMA Help You

• As FEMA assistance applications are processed, individual situations can change. It is important that you keep FEMA informed of your current contact information. This will ensure any benefits you are eligible for reach you without delay.
• A simple way to provide FEMA with missing or new information is to create an account at DisasterAssistance.gov. If you do not have internet access or need services not available on FEMA’s website, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Multilingual staff will take your call from 7 a.m. to midnight ET, seven days a week.

Continued Temporary Housing Assistance

• If you received two months of FEMA rental assistance after Tropical Storm Helene and need more time to plan your recovery, you may be eligible for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance.
• To receive continued rental assistance, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to request an Application for Continued Temporary Housing Assistance. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to midnight ET and specialists speak many languages.

FEMA Individuals and Households Program

• FEMA has approved more than $29 million in federal assistance for 7,084 Tennessee individuals and households. This includes:
  • More than $15.4 million approved for Housing Assistance including:
  • 300 households that have received $587,698 in Rental Assistance
  • More than $13.3 million approved for Other Needs Assistance.

Other FEMA Program

• The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $11.8 million and completed 84% of submitted claims.
• FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation specialists have advised 14,733 people.
  •  FEMA specialists are available to answer questions and offer home-improvement tips at Lowe’s Home Improvement in Hawkins County from Monday, Feb. 17, to Saturday, March 1. Hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday to Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Saturday. Location: 2526 East Stone Dr., Kingsport, TN 37660

Disaster Causing You Stress?  Free Crisis Counseling Available

• Disasters can take an emotional toll on your well-being. To ensure that survivors of Tropical Storm Helene have essential support in challenging times, the State of Tennessee and FEMA are offering free and confidential crisis counseling and mental health support.
• Call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990.

FEMA is Still Here to Help Tennessee Survivors

• FEMA urges survivors to stay in touch. For more information, go to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to midnight ET seven days a week and specialists speak many languages.

Understanding Your FEMA Letter

• If your FEMA decision letter says you are ineligible for assistance, it may not be a denial. Often, you only need to send more information or documentation to support your application. Learn more about Understanding FEMA’s Eligibility Decision | FEMA.gov and Helpful Tips to Appeal a FEMA Decision | FEMA.gov.

Permits Required Before Building

• If your home was damaged by Tropical Storm Helene, contact your community’s local building and permitting departments before starting demolition and repairs. Permits Required Before Rebuilding | FEMA.gov.

Privately Owned Roads and Bridges

• If your privately owned road or bridge was damaged or destroyed by Helene, FEMA or the U.S. Small Business Administration may provide financial assistance for replacement or repairs. Privately Owned Roads and Bridges | FEMA.gov.

FEMA Assistance Won’t Affect Social Security, Other Federal Benefits

• Accepting a FEMA grant will not affect your eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other federal welfare and entitlement programs. FEMA Assistance Won’t Affect Social Security, Other Federal Benefits Tennesseans May Receive | FEMA.gov.

Disaster Legal Services

• Free legal services are available to Tennesseans who can’t afford an attorney for disaster-related issues. Call 844-HELP4TN (844-435-7486).

Meeting FEMA’s Federal Flood Insurance Requirement

• FEMA requires you to have flood insurance for buildings and personal property that were damaged by a flood disaster in a high-risk flood area. Learn more at Meeting FEMA’s Federal Flood Insurance Requirement | FEMA.gov.

Direct Temporary Housing Assistance

• You’ve Been Approved for a Transportable Temporary Housing Unit. Now What? | FEMA.gov
• Transportable Temporary Housing Units: Occupant Maintenance FAQs | FEMA.gov
• Transportable Temporary Housing Units and Severe Weather | FEMA.gov
• Direct Housing Recipients Must Comply With FEMA Licensing Agreements | FEMA.gov

FEMA Public Assistance

• The State of Tennessee and FEMA have approved more than 25 projects for more than $50 million in FEMA Public Assistance funding for damage caused by Helene in Eastern Tennessee. This funding helps communities pay for emergency work to save lives and protect property, debris removal and repairs to roads, bridges and buildings. That total includes:

• Ballad Health awarded $9.8 million to replace the hospital in rural Erwin, Unicoi County.

• Cocke County awarded $7.89 million to replace Conway Bridge.
• Tennessee Department of Transportation awarded $9.6 million for clearing 457,381 cubic yards of debris from roads and public property in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.
• Washington County awarded $6.8 million to replace Corby Bridge, which spans the Nolichucky River.
• Unicoi County awarded $9.77 million to replace Chestoa Pike Road Bridge, which also straddles the Nolichucky River.
• Greene County awarded $6.2 million to replace Poplar Springs Bridge, also known as Easterly Bridge.
• Carter County awarded $10.77 million for emergency measures and the restoration of the two Poga Bridges that cross the Elk River in Elizabethton.

U.S. Small Business Administration

• The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and other sources. Apply online at SBA.gov/disaster, or call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. Learn about U.S. Small Business Administration Offers Disaster Loans to Tennesseans | FEMA.gov. The deadline to submit a U.S. Small Business Administration loan application for physical damage to real estate, inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment is Friday, March 7.

For the latest information about Tennessee’s recovery, visit tn.gov/tema or fema.gov/helene/tennessee. Follow @FEMARegion4 on X or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov; @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X; FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook; @FEMA on Instagram; and via FEMA YouTube channel.