Governor Lee provides an update on the multi-agency response to Hurricane Helene

Nashville, Tennessee. – As communities in Northeast Tennessee continue to experience significant impacts from Hurricane Helene, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on the State of Tennessee's ongoing multi-agency response.

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Measures taken by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

An expedited major disaster declaration was issued for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington. The damage assessment is still ongoing and will serve as the basis for further inquiries to the federal government.

Donate: Affected districts have started setting up donation collection points. Information about these centers can be found on the TEMA website.

Help requests: Requests for assistance are processed through the state emergency operations center, including private sector assistance.

Shelters: A list of shelter locations can be found on the TEMA website.

The Crisis resolution hotline – (844) 965-1386 – has been set up for survivors who need help with cleanup efforts. This service is free for survivors.

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC)

To extend existing water supplies and support ongoing recovery efforts, TDEC announced a mandatory water conservation order for all or portions of nine counties in the Helene-affected areas of Upper East Tennessee.

TDEC has issued a temporary water contact advisory urging the public to avoid all contact with water affected by the extreme flooding in East Tennessee.

Tennessee National Guard (TNG)

The Tennessee National Guard, in coordination with TEMA, provides 24/7 ground and air rescue support.

More than 200 soldiers are expected to be deployed in the affected areas.

Since the floods began, soldiers have conducted rescue operations, including air, ground and water operations.

These missions are all coordinated by the Tennessee Military Department's Joint Emergency Operations Center, which was activated prior to Hurricane Helene's landfall.

Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)

TDOT continues its work to improve connectivity and make infrastructure repairs in Upper East TN.

All 310 state bridges were inspected and five of them were destroyed.

47 routes were assessed, 25 were repaired and reopened.

Crews will begin inspecting local bridges. Out of 102 bridges, 90 remain and need to be assessed.

Hydroelectricity: At one point during the storm, over 1.2 million gallons of water per second flowed over Nolichucky Dam. In comparison, the maximum daily flow at Niagara Falls is 700,000 gallons of water per second.

Nearly 400 TDOT team members from across the state mobilized to report in the hardest hit areas, which are particularly remote, rural and mountainous. These TDOT employees specialize in a variety of areas including geotechnical engineering, surveying, bridge inspection, design, project development, right of way, and on-site maintenance personnel.

To strengthen our efforts and restore our transportation system as safely and quickly as possible, TDOT has already completed four construction contracts and four debris removal contracts to supplement our crews. These additional systems are already in use on site. More awards will follow in the coming weeks.

Additionally, two alternative delivery announcements are underway that will allow TDOT to bring infrastructure back online more quickly.

Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP)

THP has deployed around 200 soldiers to the operation, with dispatchers dedicated to dealing with disaster operations.

In response to flooding and damage in affected counties, THP provides assistance with traffic, social assistance, searches and other law enforcement tasks.

In addition, THP delivers goods to survivors and works with TBI to support reunification.

Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDOR)

If your primary residence is damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster in Tennessee, you may be entitled to a refund of Tennessee sales and use tax you paid on major appliances, home furniture or home building materials purchased after the disaster.

Learn more about natural disaster sales tax exemptions here.

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI)

TDCI has urged insurance companies licensed in Tennessee to make every reasonable effort to assist policyholders who have suffered losses due to severe weather and flooding.

TDCI allows insurance professionals licensed in other states to apply to practice as such an individual while that individual is assisting victims.

TDCI has requested that cancellations or non-renewals of policies due to non-payment of premium be suspended for at least 60 days from the date of loss for policyholders who have suffered property damage, injury or death.

Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD)

TDLWD announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has provided Disaster Assistance (DUA) to affected counties. Find out more on the TDLWD website.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA)

Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) applicants in storm-affected Tennessee counties have an additional deadline to apply for cost-share funds. Find out more here.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has established a hotline (1-800-TBI-FIND/1-800-824-3463) to coordinate missing person reports in areas affected by the recent flooding in Northeast Tennessee.

Callers should be prepared to provide as much identifying information as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification and last known location.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has received more than 500 missing person calls. Of those, approximately 23 are still active leads that TBI is coordinating with local law enforcement response.

Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security (TDSHS)

The Driver Services Division issues duplicate IDs and driver's licenses for survivors at the Unicoi Police Department and Newport Grammar School. Find out more here.

TennCare

In response to the severe weather and the order, TennCare is ensuring that members' applications and health coverage are not impacted in counties impacted by the storm.

TennCare is also committed to ensuring members continue to receive essential health services:

Applications and extensions: If the flooding has affected your access to important records, please contact TennCare Connect at 855-259-0701 for assistance in submitting your application or renewal, or if you have internet access, go to. Please let us know if the storm damage affects your ability to return documents requested by TennCare.

Appeals: If you need to appeal or are awaiting an appeal decision, please contact our Eligibility or Medical Appeals team if you have any questions about your appeal status

Call TennCare Eligibility Appeals toll-free at 1-855-259-0701.

Call TennCare Member Medical Appeals toll-free at 1-800-878-3192.

Pharmacy services: TennCare, CoverKids and CoverRX members who need assistance filling prescriptions should contact their pharmacy. The pharmacy can help Tennesseans obtain the medications they need if they experience difficulty.