New TEMA update released Sunday
TEMA released a new report Sunday, confirming another person has died as a result of flooding in Unicoi County. 12 weather-related fatalities were confirmed by the Tennessee Department of Health with five of those reported in Unicoi County. Three wastewater treatment plants reported problems within their systems due to storm impacts. The plants are in Hamblen, Johnson and Unicoi Counties. TDEC issued a temporary water contact advisory, urging the public to avoid all contact with bodies of water affected by the flooding. TEMA said flood victims in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance. That assistance became available to the declared counties after Governor Lee’s October 2 announcement about the approval of his request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration. TEMA is working with state and federal partners to establish Multi-Agency Resource Center locations in some impacted areas to assist survivors with registration and ensure residents have access to all available resources to apply for assistance, A Disaster Hotline–(423) 830-2696–has been established to serve as a regional hotline for community members, donors and national/international organizations. A Crisis Clean-Up Hotline, (844) 965-1386, is available with services provided at no cost for help in disaster clean-up efforts.