More than 5,200 Tennessee households received federal assistance to recover from Hurricane Helene [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Millions of federal dollars have passed through East Tennessee, helping communities pick up the pieces in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday that it approved more than $18.9 million in assistance for East Tennessee counties impacted by the storm. Those include Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

The agency also said it has helped 5,207 East Tennessee households recover from the hurricane. It approved more than $9.1 million in housing assistance so people in the impacted areas could have a place to stay after the storm. It also approved more than $9.6 million in other needs, including $4.3 million for “Serious Needs Assistance.”

That type of assistance includes supplies like water, first aid, breastfeeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, hygiene items or fuel for transportation.

Anyone …