FEMA Assists East Tennessee Residents with Temporary Housing After Hurricane Helene

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

Months after Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation in East Tennessee, FEMA is assisting displaced residents with temporary housing solutions.

Darryl Dragoo, FEMA’s Tennessee officer for Helene response, explained that these projects are more than just delivering trailers.

Each temporary housing site is treated as a small construction project, requiring FEMA to meet local zoning and ordinance requirements, which means working closely with local authorities.

The process involves careful planning, especially when setting up group sites such as RV parks, where multiple FEMA units are placed together.

Utilities are set up above ground, and when the sites are no longer needed, they are dismantled and restored to their original state.

As of now, 79 families have accepted FEMA’s housing assistance out of over 400 applications. Dragoo commended the resilience and generosity of Tennesseans, noting that many residents have offered their places to others in need.

However, FEMA is ensuring that housing is available to all who need it, with applications accepted until January 7.

This assistance comes as some residents, especially in Cocke County, face difficult decisions about rebuilding in flood-prone areas and whether to secure flood insurance.

The trailers and other temporary housing options are offering crucial relief to families rebuilding their lives in the wake of the disaster.

 

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