Flood rescue efforts continue as Biden approves state of emergency for Tennessee

Rescue efforts continue in East Tennessee after flooding from Tropical Storm Helene devastated communities in northern East Tennessee. Helene has caused at least 39 deaths in the Southeast since making landfall in Florida on Thursday evening.

President Joe Biden has approved federal disaster assistance for Tennessee to supplement response efforts resulting from emergencies caused by Tropical Storm Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Saturday morning.

FEMA is authorized to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and provide appropriate assistance to save lives and protect property.

Federal funding is available for emergency protection measures, including direct federal assistance for Carter, Johnson and Unicoi counties.

Direct federal assistance and reimbursement for evacuation and shelter support is available for Cocke, Hawkins and Washington counties.

Darryl L. Dragoo has been named federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

Gov. Bill Lee signed an executive order Friday requesting a major disaster declaration from FEMA for property damage victims and evacuation orders related to severe weather and flooding.

Storm causes damage in Mid-East TN

On Saturday night, about 100,000 East Tennessee residents were told to seek higher ground as the Nolichucky Dam in Greene County was on the brink of failure. A flash flood warning in Cocke, Greene and Hamblen counties in East Tennessee remains in effect until Saturday afternoon. Tennessee Valley Authority announced Saturday morning that the Nolichucky River has crested and the dam remains intact.

On Friday afternoon, 54 people were rescued by helicopter from the roof of Unicoi County Hospital after being stranded by flooding. Tennessee emergency responders and the National Guard coordinated with Virginia State Police.

On Friday, the entire downtown area of ​​Newport, Tennessee was evacuated after another dam was determined to be at risk of “catastrophic” failure. On Friday afternoon, authorities said it was a false alarm.

Rain showers are expected to continue across Middle Tennessee throughout Saturday and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

A flood watch for Middle Tennessee was canceled Thursday as heavy rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Helene ended Friday, according to the National Weather Service, after the hurricane’s remnants dumped 1.75 inches of rain on Nashville.

Metro Swiftwater Rescue Team is deployed to Carter County

The Nashville-based Swiftwater Rescue Team deployed to Elizabethton, Tennessee Friday evening with boats, drones and extrication tools to assist with ongoing rescue efforts in flooded areas of Carter County.

The rescue team is a partnership between the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Nashville Fire Department. The team was expected to arrive late on Friday.

More storm coverage:

Reach Vivian Jones at vjones@tennessean.com or at X @Vivian_E_Jones.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Flood rescue efforts continue as Biden approves state of emergency for Tennessee