Recovering from Hurricane Helene

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene brought severe storms and devastating flooding across East Tennessee, leaving many residents displaced and local infrastructure severely damaged. President Joe Biden and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee declared a State of Emergency – and federal, state, and local emergency efforts are ongoing in communities throughout the region. Many in our service territory were significantly impacted, including Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties.

The ETF immediately re-activated the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund specifically to support community needs and recovery efforts throughout East Tennessee as we deal with the devastation from Hurricane Helene. This fund has been activated three times previously to aid with flood recovery, wildfires in Sevier County, and COVID-19. In the wake of Helene, it is providing strategic grants to empower nonprofits, houses of worship, educational institutions, and government agencies to aid in recovery of the affected communities.

In the four weeks following the hurricane, over 6,000 donors from across the U.S. and beyond have generously directed gifts totaling over $3.5 million in cash, pledges, and internal transfers toward the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund.

The aftermath of the storm has created an urgent need for coordinated relief efforts to ensure that families and businesses can begin to rebuild their lives. Through the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund, the ETF is using strategic grantmaking to support some immediate needs; however, our focus is on long-term recovery efforts. Available data and our own research have shown that long-term recovery is the greatest need following a disaster; however, it is generally the least supported.

We are working to identify long-term recovery needs that are not otherwise supported by state and federal funding. Our approach includes helping communities rebuild to become stronger and more resilient, with a focus on sustainable solutions that will better prepare us for future disasters. By providing grants to organizations that focus on disaster preparedness and mitigation, we aim to help our region recover physically, economically and emotionally.

The ETF has 18 affiliate fund advisory groups made up of local leaders throughout the region, including several in the impacted communities, and we are strategically partnering with those local representatives to ensure we are listening, learning, and maximizing impacts where they are most needed. We are prioritizing grants to local nonprofit organizations that are deeply embedded in the affected communities, leveraging their on-the-ground knowledge and experience to ensure that aid is distributed efficiently and effectively.

Through the Neighbor to Neighbor Disaster Relief Fund, the ETF’s donors and philanthropic partners are making a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of those affected by disasters. As we work together to address the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, please know that your support is empowering our communities to recover and rebuild. We are deeply grateful for your trust in the ETF and your investment in our region’s future.