Image Credit: tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
Two months after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of eastern Tennessee, residents of the small community of Embreeville in Washington County still find themselves without clean water or internet service amongst other lingering problems post-hurricane.
One of the most affected areas by Hurricane Helene, Embreeville is a small unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) between the towns of Erwin and Jonesborough with a population of 429 people, according to the last census.
Some places still look as though they were just hit by the storm, with debris littering property, which could be allowing chemicals to potentially leech into the river, and animals like mice, stray cats, and a plethora of gnats and general decay causing unbearable stenches and impacting the air quality.
Reportedly, the local water supply “just looks like milk,” forcing citizens in the area to subsist on bottled water, though many local distribution centers are no longer operating. Many are also unable to pay bills online, requiring them to travel into town to keep up with simple necessities like utilities.
Resident Diane Shelton shared concerns amongst community members over the wreckage still plaguing the town, “It’s been two months. You can see the devastation that we are looking at every day. We feel like this is the land of the forgotten…We haven’t had any contact from any county officials to give us any updates on what’s planned. We have reached out to them and they seem to not be aware of a Hurricane Helene.”
She also claims there has been a lack of relief assistance in the area and that what little recovery work has been accomplished has been done so by residents. “Where do we go from here? We just feel abandoned. I mean, that’s bottom line. What we’ve received has not been any local help. That’s what I’m angry about. I’m calling people out today. Where are you? What are you going to do about this?” she said.
Embreeville citizens are not the only ones feeling forgotten and abandoned. Both the Biden administration and FEMA have been widely criticized for their handling of the hurricane response, including poor response times, mismanagement of funds and relief supplies, and bias against impacted homes with Trump signs in their yards.
Many citizen-led and non-profit organizations, like Samaritan’s Purse, are still participating in ongoing efforts to bring relief and aid to the Tennessee and North Carolina communities suffering from the hurricane aftermath.
A sampling of such organizations and other ways to volunteer can be found on the First Lady of Tennessee’s webpage- click here to view.
Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
Land grab?