‘Tragic disaster’: TEMA says 100+ still missing 3 days after flooding from Hurricane Helene

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) is coordinating the state’s response to the aftermath of flooding from Hurricane Helene where at least three are confirmed dead and more than 100 remain missing in East Tennessee .

“When we lose Tennesseans, when we lose friends, family, and neighbors, that makes this disaster a tragic disaster,” said Patrick Sheehan, TEMA director.

Sheehan told reporters during a media briefing Monday that officials’ main priority is finding the remaining 100+ still missing in East Tennessee and getting closure for their families. He urged the public to use the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s established hotline to report people who are missing due to the storm: 1-800-TBI-FIND , or 1-800-824-3463 .

Sheehan expects more deaths to be reported as TEMA continues to collaborate with different local, state, and federal agencies in the search, rescue, and recovery efforts.

“This is going to be a long haul, and people are going to be frustrated, and things are going to seem slow, and sometimes they are going to be slow, but we are doing everything we can to rapidly get resources there, to support these communities, and make sure we are stabilizing infrastructure,” Sheehan said.

FEMA has authorized Public Assistance emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance at 75% federal funding for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Johnson, and Unicoi counties.

Washed-out roads and bridges and downed communication lines are among the next most pressing issues, according to first responders and others on the ground. Officials are using radios and other devices to connect.

“Wireless communications in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, if you’ve been there; if you’ve vacationed there, you know your cell phone signals are not a given thing on the best looking day. This makes it much worse and much harder,” Sheehan said.

A more long-term issue is water access, according to Sheehan. Water intake systems in Greenville and Newport were destroyed in the floodwaters, and more than a dozen other public drinking water infrastructure systems have reported issues, with some damage described as “tremendous,” and “not easy to restore or repair.”

TEMA is working with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other utility partners to develop rapid solutions to get water systems restored, in addition to transporting as much bottled water as possible to the affected areas.

The National Guard is also air-dropping water, food, and other supplies to the areas isolated due to road damage.

Despite so many people in need, officials ask that volunteers stay away from the impacted areas until they’re called on to help.

“At this point, people showing up is not helpful unless they’re affiliated with a volunteer organization that is part of this fight to get services restored and life safety measures in place,” Sheehan said. “Once the news cameras go away people are still going to need help, and this type of disaster is a years and decades long recovery.”

The most effective way to help at the moment is by donating cash to reputable organizations, like Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TN VOAD) or the East Tennessee Foundation , according to Sheehan. Impacted areas cannot accept material donations that have not been requested.

The following affected counties have set up donation collection centers with specific requests for supplies. Before donating, check with the local counties to determine specific needs:

CARTER COUNTY

• Elizabethton Parks and Rec
  300 West Mill Street
  8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

UNICOI COUNTY

Donation Drop-Off Center:

• Evergreen Free Will Baptist Church
  910 Hoback Street Erwin, TN
  9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Donation Pick up sites:

• Southside Freewill Baptist Church
  1313 Chestoa Pike Erwin, TN
• Temple Hill Elementary School
  797 Old Hwy Road Erwin, TN
• Flag Pond School
  917 Old Asheville Highway Flag Pond, TN
  9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

• Crossroads Baptist Church
  1300 Suncrest Dr. Johnson City, TN
  9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (seven days a week)

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