(The Center Square) – Tennessee is receiving more help from the federal government nearly two years after Hurricane Helene caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Monday that Tennessee will receive more than $106 million, with more than half of it, $69 million, reimbursing the state for debris removal and infrastructure repair efforts after the late September 2024 storm.
The Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative will receive $5.2 million for permanent repairs. The Johnson County town of Mountain City will receive $3.8 million. Another $4.8 million is for crisis counseling and mental health support, according to the agency.
The funding package includes $5.1 million to cover costs related to a winter storm in early 2026. Tennessee will also receive $8.6 million from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program which will help the state pay for safe rooms and generators.
Hurricane Helene caused $314.6 million in damages to East Tennessee bridges and roads, Mark Nagi, the Tennessee Department of Transportation regional communications officer for East Tennessee, said previously.
Two highways on the Tennessee-North Carolina border were severely damaged. The I-26 bridge over the Nolichucky River and the I-40 roadway collapsed due to heavy rain during the storm.
The Tennessee General Assembly added $450 million in hurricane relief funds in a special legislative session held in January 2025.
The largest chunk, $240 million, was added to Tennessee’s existing disaster relief fund, reducing the local cost share for cities and counties from 12.5% to 5%. Another $110 million was allocated to create a new fund to help local governments manage loan interest for recovery costs. A new program will provide flexible financial resources for future emergencies with $100 million in funding, Gov. Bill Lee’s office said in a presentation to the General Assembly.
More than $59.9 million in timber losses were assessed by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division. Most of the damage occurred on private property, the department said.
