Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti will be investigating if Tennesseans were discriminated against during relief work by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. WVLT reporting this investigation comes after FEMA said one of its employees advised her disaster relief team to avoid homes with signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump in Florida after…… MORE
The North Carolina Department of Transportation expects I-40 across the state line to be open through the Pigeon River Gorge by New Year’s Day. NCDOT says traffic would be moving slower than normal, estimating a 40 mph speed limit with one lane in each direction. The news comes just over a month after Hurricane Helene…… MORE
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved Direct Temporary Housing Assistance for East Tennesseans affected by flooding from Helene. The assistance was approved for homeowners and renters who had major or significant structural damage as a result of floodwaters, according to FEMA. It will provide temporary housing for 18 months, ending on April 2, 2026.…… MORE
Erwin, TN (WOKI) Thousands of tons of asphalt and rock later and in just 33 days, connectivity is restored to a small East Tennessee town as a portion of I-26 is reopened Wednesday in Unicoi County. The small town of Erwin relies on major roads like I-26. Speaking to media Wednesday, Tennessee Department of Transportation…… MORE
Cooler temperatures mean beautiful fall leaf colors around East Tennessee. National Park officials say that the leaves have reached their peak for fall color in the highest elevations inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Color is beginning to show more and more in the valley as well thanks to a cooler stretch of weather.…… MORE
(Story courtesy of WVLT News) Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reminding people that they need to apply for FEMA assistance in order to qualify for a home inspection. Following intense flooding brought by Hurricane Helene at the end of September, FEMA inspectors are checking in with those affected to determine if they qualify…… MORE
Hurricane Helene Recovery Roadway Closures as of October 18, 2024. Click on the map for a higher resolution image. Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) crews are working to assess damage, inspect all state-owned bridges, and repair connectivity in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit Tennessee on September 27, 2024. The counties with the most…… MORE
Nearly three weeks after severe flooding devastated parts of Tennessee and North Carolina, people are still pouring into the impacted areas and offering help. Brian Minton owns a farm in Dandridge and has been to Asheville for several days over the last two weeks. He‘s shared what he’s seen on social media, and immediately received…… MORE
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (TDOSHS) is issuing free replacement identification licenses and driver licenses to citizens directly impacted by the East Tennessee floods at the Elizabethton Driver Services Center, Unicoi Police Department and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s (TEMA) three Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs). Driver Services are available at the MARCs…… MORE
Newport, TN (WOKI) Cocke County Schools’ students and staff are returning to school Wednesday, October 16 following devastating flooding caused by Tropical Storm Helene that began on September 27. Cocke County Schools representatives say the district has been working with county and state officials to gauge the damage and work on repairs to get students…… MORE
