COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — Cocke County officials may have a new opportunity to rebuild their jail after devastating flooding from Helene forced inmates out of the facility nearly two years ago.
Sheriff C.J. Ball says FEMA has reopened the application process, giving the county a chance to seek federal funding again for the damaged jail and annex.
“I think we’re going to have to kind of start over, but they’ve opened it back up to where we can go back and try to receive that FEMA funding,” Ball said.
The flooding caused an estimated $30 million in damage, including the total loss of the jail annex. However, Ball says FEMA is currently only considering funding for the original jail structure—not additional spaces like courtrooms or offices that were also destroyed.
Meanwhile, the cost to build a new facility has continued to rise. A proposed jail project that once carried a $50 million price tag has nearly doubled due to inflation and construction costs.
Before the flood, the county’s 88-bed jail was already overcrowded. Since then, Cocke County has been forced to house inmates in other facilities across East Tennessee, including the Jefferson County Workhouse under a one-year agreement.
That contract comes with a monthly cost and uncertainty. Jefferson County could require Cocke County to vacate the space with as little as 30 days’ notice, which could lead to even higher costs for housing and transporting inmates elsewhere.
Ball says securing FEMA funding would significantly reduce the financial burden and help move the county toward a long-term solution.
With two years approaching since the flood, county leaders say time is critical to establish a permanent plan to address jail capacity and public safety needs.
