According to TEMA, Hurricane Helene leaves at least three dead and over 100 missing in Tennessee

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – Losses from Hurricane Helene continue to mount, and Tennessee is the latest state to join the list.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) announced Monday afternoon that three people have been confirmed dead and over 100 others are missing in the state.

And according to TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan, there will be more deaths as a result.

“That’s what makes this a tragedy to me,” Sheehan said. “It is when we Tennesseans lose, when we lose friends, family and neighbors. That makes this a tragic disaster, so our prayers go out to the loved ones, the family and those lost there.”

This natural disaster has claimed the lives of over 120 people in six different states, and with that death comes more destruction.

Nearly 12,000 homes and businesses in Tennessee are still without power, while 14 state bridges are closed – five of them destroyed.

Although this damage to infrastructure creates significant transportation problems, the damage to public drinking water systems is Sheehan’s biggest concern.

He says 13 public water systems have reported problems, two of which now have non-functional water intakes.

TEMA is working with several utilities – FEMA, TDAC and US Army Corp of Engineer – to address the drinking water problem. The company now supplies mineral water to the masses.

It is also working with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to locate the missing people.

Despite these efforts, Sheehan doesn’t know how long it will take for the state to return to normal.

But that won’t be the case anytime soon.

“Even if the news cameras go down, this community will still need help,” he said. “This type of disaster requires years and decades of recovery.”

For now, Sheehan is asking outsiders to support the cause with monetary donations. In a week, he says, people in Tennessee — with homes destroyed or flooded — will need help.

“We need help cleaning out,” he said. “We will need help to beautify the community.”

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