While most of the Hurricane Helene coverage focuses on Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, other parts of the country, particularly in Postindustrial America, were hit especially hard. Folks we know in Eastern Tennessee are asking for our help.
We’re hearing from friends and folks we know in Eastern Tennessee about the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene passing through the Volunteer State late last week.
Writer Skylar Baker-Jordan, who specializes in telling stories from Appalachia, said that the recovery in Eastern Tennessee, where numerous homes, roads, bridges, and other vital infrastructure were washed away, may take years to recover.
“The recovery will take years, and we are already being ignored compared to similar disasters elsewhere… One thing I’ve noticed is we [in Eastern Tennessee] are second or third story on national news, which does not bode well for long-term coverage,” Baker-Jordan told us.
Postindustrial spent some time in Northeast Tennessee this summer telling you about the incredible outdoor activities, restaurants, and other fun stuff to do there, so seeing that gorgeous corner of Tennessee hit so hard is heartbreaking for us as well.
So far, at least two people are dead in the region, and some 150 are still missing. The recovery effort is ongoing, and the death toll is likely to rise, not to mention the damage communities like Johnson City and others are experiencing.
“There is some major damage to our bridges and dams throughout the county as well as many people's houses and farmlands [being] absolutely decimated,” said Molly Boyd, tourism director in Greene County. [There’s] horrible destruction all over the Northeast Tennessee region.”
Both FEMA and “TEMA,” (that’s the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) are already collecting relief supplies for those affected by the hurricane.
Already residents in Northeastern Tennessee are concerned that they are getting the relief supplies they need, as well as national media attention to keep their recovery foremost on relief organizations’ minds.
“Keeping the story in the news is going to be challenging,” Baker-Jordan added.
“We are currently trying to make ourselves as useful as possible to as many people as we know — and have been trying to donate to various resources in the region,” said artist and area resident Sage Perrott.
At Postindustrial, we’re going to do our part by keeping you up to date about this and other recovery efforts in our area. So stay tuned!
In the meantime, here’s a list of organizations you can support to help those in need in Tennessee following Hurricane Helene.
Thanks for helping out!
