The Greeneville-Greene County Office of Emergency Management is gathering preliminary flood damage assessments for the Tennessee Emergency Management Authority.
The National Weather Service in Morristown reported a total of up to 5.51 inches of rain Saturday and Sunday in Greene County, depending on the location, according to the NWS daily precipitation report.
Torrential rains on both days resulted in damage to several roads and bridges across the county and at least two water rescues of people and animals. No injuries were reported.
The flood watch was extended until 8 p.m. Monday for southeast and northwest Greene County.
“Locations that have already seen flooding should take any additional heavy rain seriously,” the NWS alert said.
A press release issued Monday by the Greeneville-Greene County Office of Emergency Management asks for anyone whose residences or businesses were damaged by flooding July 11-13 to call the local office at 423-798-1729.
First, homeowners and business owners, who have insurance, should immediately reach out to their insurance carriers to report damages, the press release said.
Otherwise, those who received damage, specifically structural, should call the local EMA office at 423-798-1724 and leave a message to report the following information no later than Thursday, July 16, a deadline set by TEMA, the press release said.
- Contact name
- Contact phone number
- Address of reported damages; and
- Detailed information about the damage.
After receiving the report of damages, information will be reviewed and submitted for damage assessment. Someone will reach out and schedule a date and time to meet with the resident or business owner regarding these damages. The preliminary damages will then be reported to TEMA through local Emergency Management for their review process and total damages reported, the press release explained.
Please note that with any disaster, a local, county threshold must be met, and then a threshold of damages must be met at the state level for a disaster declaration to be considered.
This assessment doesn’t mean that Greene County will qualify for a disaster declaration and subsequently assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the press release concluded.
Heather Sipe, director of the local EMA office, said Monday afternoon two individuals and four dogs were staying at the Red Cross Shelter at Chuckey-Doak Middle School.
Sipe said she was working with several agencies, including Red Cross, to assist these individuals who had been displaced by the flooding.
She said Red Cross will keep the shelter open as long as it is needed.
Once everyone returns to their home or is placed in another home, Red Cross will close the shelter, she said.
The shelter is located at 120 Chuckey Doak Road, Afton, and offers:
- Shelter and comfort Clean water and snacks
- Phone charging stations
- Emergency relief supplies; and
- Health and mental health services.
Anyone who has been impacted and needs assistance can contact 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).