COPPERHILL, Tenn. — Tennessee is keeping its state of emergency in force a week after record flooding swamped Polk County, and federal disaster officials have now walked the damage alongside state crews to judge whether outside help is warranted.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, as water poured through Copperhill and the surrounding Copper Basin, the state emergency agency moved its operations center up to Level 4, the Elevated tier. That step also put the Tennessee Emergency Management Plan into effect, which is what creates the state of emergency and lets every state agency pitch in behind county responders.
State and local teams have finished their own damage counts. At the request of the state, FEMA staff joined federal small business lending officials on joint preliminary reviews of the damage, a step that documents losses and is one part of deciding whether more help can be offered. Agency leaders cautioned that the reviews carry no promise of federal money.
The rescue work was large. Swift-water teams sent through Tennessee Fire Mutual Aid pulled more than 100 people to safety in Tennessee and Georgia and saved 25 dogs. Those crews drew 65 firefighters and rescuers from 18 departments.
The evacuation order for Copperhill has since been lifted, and cleanup and debris hauling are getting underway. State emergency managers are asking owners to take photos and keep records of damage before they start clearing it out, to sort debris the way local officials direct, and to stay out of damaged buildings unless they are safe.
Anyone still in need should contact the Polk County Emergency Management Agency and report damage there. Flood victims who need help with shelter, food, transportation or household items can call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767, and people facing an emergency should dial 911.
TEMA Commissioner Patrick C. Sheehan said in a statement that the flooding has hit Polk County families and businesses hard and that the state will stay engaged with local leaders through recovery. The agency said it will post updates if any added assistance becomes available.
Filed under: Nashville TN Weather News
