Local organizations offer ways to help those affected by catastrophic flooding

September 30, 2024

Emily Goodwin,

JACKSON, Tenn. — In east Tennessee, bridges have been washed away, businesses and homes destroyed and there are still people missing due to the aftermath of Helene. There are many ways you can help and it goes directly to disaster relief efforts.

Tennesseans in the eastern part of the state were catastrophically affected by hurricane Helene. According to Tennessee Department of Transportation, more than 100 bridges have been inspected in the last 36 hours, with hundreds more to go. 14 state bridges are closed and five are completely gone. Local emergency responders are headed to Unicoi County with a morgue trailer and a mobile hospital.

The Salvation Army in Jackson is packing up the mobile feeding unit to deliver hot meals to survivors Tuesday.

“And they’ll be prepared to serve somewhere between 500 to 15-hundred meals a day, whatever the community needs,” said Bria Swaringham, Pathway of Hope program manager with the Salvation Army of Jackson.

“Each time I go there’s always a family somewhere in there that makes me proud that I’m doing this,” said Roger Fowler, cantine coordinator with the Salvation Army of Jackson.

American Red Cross is assisting to locate missing loved ones.

Both of these organizations say financial contributions are the most effective way to support their disaster relief efforts. Another way to help locally is to donate bottled drinking water. The Jackson Fire Department will have drop off locations at all seven fire stations.

“Anything that we can do to help is really a blessing. A blessing to us to be able to do it, and a blessing to them to be able to receive it,” said Chief Don Friddle with the JFD.

Crews could be out in severely impacted areas for up to two weeks. They plan to move quickly to get the supplies where they are needed as soon as possible.

To help those directly affected by hurricane Helene with a monetary donation, visit the American Red Cross or Salvation Army website. Also, The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has established a hotline to coordinate reports of missing persons in the areas affected by the recent severe flooding impacting parts of east Tennessee. If you have any information to help recover these individuals call 1-800-824-3463.

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