It’s been almost 2 weeks after Hurricane Helene, and many are still without water, power, and any ability to connect to the outside world.  More than 200 people lost their lives.  

The devastation is hard to put into words, or even capture in photos—but so is the outpouring of support.

As proud Volunteers, it comes as no surprise that Knoxville is stepping up big time to help our neighbors.  This started with our highly-trained KFD Swift Water Rescue team, which deployed even before the rain stopped.  Soon after, our KPD and KFD search and rescue teams deployed to Washington County, where they searched for missing people for over a week.  And Knoxville churches, businesses, and nonprofits, have collected and delivered supplies, volunteered their time, and donated money to help our neighbors in need.

How to Help

There will be a lot of mud to remove and debris to clear in the coming weeks.  Roads, bridges, water treatment plants, and other infrastructure need to be repaired or replaced.  Homes will need to be re-built.  The recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint.

The TEMA website has a good overview of all the ways to help, including links to donate to specific counties and organizations, and ways to volunteer based on your time and skills.

This hurricane has caused so much damage, but also reminded us how fortunate we are to be part of a resilient, caring, generous community.  

We are Mountain Strong!

Indya