Sevier County reviews Hurricane Helene response as state declares disaster, mayor notifies committee of proposed relief appropriation

Sevier County officials reviewed the county’s response to Hurricane Helene at the Emergency Services Committee meeting on Oct. 10, 2024, saying the county deployed resources to support neighboring jurisdictions and used flood‑monitoring tools and Army Corps modeling to prepare for and respond to the event.

Director Joe Ayers of the Department of Emergency Management summarized the county’s actions, saying the county’s flood monitoring system and an Army Corps of Engineers model aided preparedness and response. Ayers also reported that an Emergency Operations Center support team was sent to Unicoi County to assist in the aftermath of flooding.

Sheriff Michael Hodges and Chief David Puckett said Sevier County assisted Cocke County by sending personnel and providing housing for 45 inmates as part of mutual‑aid efforts.

Mayor Larry Waters told the committee that the state has declared Sevier County a disaster area, which the county said will allow access to assistance through FEMA and TEMA. Waters also informed the committee of a forthcoming measure described in the meeting as “Resolution 2024‑10‑XX: A Resolution to Appropriate Funds to Mountain Ways and Mountain Touch in Response to the Hurricane Helene Flooding.” The transcript does not record any motion, vote or committee action on that appropriation at the Oct. 10 meeting.

Why it matters: A state disaster declaration is the administrative threshold for state and federal disaster aid; the county’s mutual‑aid deployments and the proposed appropriation, if approved in a later meeting, would shape immediate relief and recovery funding for local organizations and neighborhoods.

The committee did not take action on the appropriation during the session. The meeting proceeded to other agenda items and adjourned at 7:01 PM.