Business and personal recovery assistance are available in the wake of Helene on uninsured or otherwise uncompensated disaster losses.
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits in the counties listed below are eligible for disaster loans with favorable terms to repair or replace real estate, equipment, inventory, and for working capital, future mitigation, etc.
Homeowners and renters are also eligible for disaster loan assistance to repair or replace a principal residence and personal property.
Counties included: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington. They are eligible for coverage of both physical damage and economic injury as a result of the storm.
Contiguous Counties: Grainger, Hancock, Jefferson, Sevier and Sullivan. They are eligible for coverage of economic injury as a result of the storm.
From Friday, October 4, 2024 – Thursday, October 17, 2024, McGhee Tyson Airport is expecting higher than normal passenger numbers that will create longer lines at the airline and rental car counters as well as at the security checkpoint. It is imperative that passengers arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled departure time. Passenger levels will also impact parking and the airport is encouraging guests to visit https://flyknoxville.com/ before leaving for the airport to check on parking lot availability. The website offers real-time parking capacity options.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the second year in a row, Tennessee baseball will play two of its Orange and White Fall World Series games at minor league ballparks in East Tennessee.
The 2024 National Champion Volunteers will open their annual Fall World Series on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at AT&T Field, home of the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
All tickets will be $12 general admission. Fans can find more info and purchase tickets HERE.
Game two of the series is slated to take place in nearby Kodak on Friday, Nov. 8 at Smokies Stadium, home of the Double-A Tennessee Smokies. The contest will be the final game played inside of Smokies Stadium as the team prepares to move into its new ballpark located in downtown Knoxville next April.
First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. ET and tickets will start at $10. Fans can also purchase a $25 all-you-can-eat buffet option. Suites are available for purchase by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300. Parking will be free for all fans.
Tickets for the game at Smokies Stadium can be purchased HERE.
Tennessee is coming off a record-setting season that ended with the program’s seventh trip to the Men’s College World Series and first national title. The Big Orange became the first SEC team to ever win 60 games in a season, finishing with an incredible 60-13 overall record. UT also became just the fourth program in history to win the SEC regular season crown, the SEC Tournament title and the National Championship in the same year.
The Vols will be led by a handful of key returners while also welcoming in another talented group of newcomers to the program this fall.
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) The Emergency Disaster Services teams with Salvation Army of Kentucky & East Tennessee are providing meals and spiritual care Thursday to residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The Salvation Army’s mobile feeding units will provide hot meals, snacks, and beverages to those affected by flooding, as well as to first responders.
“In addition to nourishment, our teams will offer emotional and spiritual care to those in need,” a news release stated. The meals will take place at the following locations:
Madisonville, TN (WOKI) A man in Monroe County is in prison accused of sexual assault.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says they started investigating complaints about a possible assault back in August at the Monroe County EMS station in Madisonville.
The TBI later determined Brian Keith Hodge assaulted the victim.
Agents arrested Hodge Wednesday, October 2; he is being housed at the Monroe County Jail on a $10,000 bond and was indicted on one count of sexual battery.
Hodge was taken into custody and is being housed at the Monroe County Jail on a $10,000 bond. (Courtesy: TBI)
Unicoi County, TN (WOKI) On Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Health confirmed there have been more “weather-related” fatalities in East Tennessee, according to an announcement from TEMA.
There has been one death in Knox County in addition to one in Johnson County, four in Unicoi County, two in Cocke, one in Greene and two in Washington County.
TEMA also said there are 23 people missing in areas impacted by flooding, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This is down from a peak exceeding 100.
As of Wednesday, there is one person missing in Carter County, two people in Johnson County, one each in Cocke and Hawkins counties, four in Greene, three people in Knox County, two in Sullivan, six people in Unicoi County and three people in Washington County.
Officials said there are more than 20 people missing in upper East Tennessee. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Nashville, TN (WOKI) The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued a temporary water contact advisory after the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.
“In the aftermath of unprecedented flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, several wastewater treatment plants have been compromised and are temporarily unable to completely treat effluent before it enters receiving waters. In addition, sewer line crossings may have been severed or damaged allowing raw sewage to enter streams, and individual septic systems may be compromised across the region.” – Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Officials said the warning was out of an abundance of caution and not based upon specific water quality data.
This advisory includes surface waters in the Nolichucky, French Broad, Pigeon, Doe, and Watauga River as well as any other flooded areas.
They assumed the floodwater is carrying bacteria and should be avoided. If you come into contact with it, wash the area with clean water and soap as soon as possible.
“The health of our citizens is top priority at TDEC, and we urge everyone in these areas to follow this advisory,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said.
Officials said they were staying in contact with local facilities to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation said the warning was issued out of an abundance of caution and not based on specific water quality data. (Courtesy: WVLT)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) UPATE: The Knoxville Police Department is asking for information following what they say was a “targeted” shooting overnight resulting in a fatality.
KPD says officers responded around 10:15 p.m. to the report of a shooting in the 1900 block of Minnesota Avenue finding 41-year-old Carlos Cozart Yarbrough who had been shot at least one time; he was taken to UT Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Police say it’s believed that the suspect came out from behind some nearby dumpsters, firing into a group that was in a parking lot.
“The shooting appears to be targeted, but there is no evidence to suggest that the victim was the intended target,” KPD Communications Manager Scott Erland said.
At this time, Erland said, detectives are looking at surveillance video and recanvassing the area.
A suspect has yet to be identified. Anyone with information is being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165 or the KPD directly at 865-215-7317.
ORIGINAL STORY: The Knoxville Police Department is asking for information following a deadly shooting late Tuesday night in northwest Knoxville.
KPD says a suspect has yet to be identified in the shooting which occurred around 10:15 p.m. in a a parking lot near Minnesota Avenue and Pascal Drive.
Officers responding to the scene reportedly found a 41-year-old man who had been shot at least one time; he was taken to UT Medical Center, where he died as a result of his injuries.
Anyone with information is being asked to call East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers at 865-215-7165.
The man was taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he died, KPD said. (Courtesy: KPD)
Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Knoxville Police Department officials have identified the man hit and killed by a train Monday afternoon in North Knoxville.
The incident happened near E. Inskip Drive and Morton Place Way. Knoxville Police say 33-year-old Dustin Pilkington was struck by a Norfolk Southern train and pronounced dead at the scene.
The train was going south when the operators spotted Pilkington walking on the tracks. The operators reportedly blew the horn and put on the brakes, but were unable to stop the train before striking him.
The investigation into Pilkington’s death remains ongoing at this time.
KPD said the incident happened in the area of E. Inskip Drive and Morton Place Way. (Courtesy: KPD)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As No. 4 Tennessee gears up for an interdivisional SEC clash with Arkansas on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), the Vols expect to play in another loud and challenging road environment in Fayetteville. After Tuesday’s practice session on Haslam Field, a pair of UT assistants met with media to recap the opening third of the regular season and preview the contest against the Razorbacks.
Wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope stressed the importance of his room knowing their opponent, honing in on the tendencies and scheme of the Arkansas secondary. The Hogs have had success creating turnovers with six interceptions this season, which ranks third in the SEC and top-20 in the country.
As is standard every week in the Southeastern Conference, Pope looks forward to a raucous crowd and intense level of competition for his receivers when the Vols take the field at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
“They have to know who they are going against,” Pope said. “They have to know tendencies and what to expect. That is something at the beginning of the week we really harp on is personnel. I said earlier, in this league, you are going to play against elite personnel every week. That’s our main focus initially, but as we get throughout the week, the scheme becomes more of the focus point. Their personnel is really good, we are playing a really good opponent. We are looking forward to going into a tough environment and competing our butts off.”
Defensive coordinator Tim Banks has his unit thriving early in the season, as Tennessee leads the SEC and ranks first nationally in total defense (176.0) while leading the conference and ranking second in the FBS in scoring defense (7.0). Complementing an elite defensive line and experienced linebacker corps, UT’s young, athletic secondary has held its own through the first four games of the 2024 campaign.
Led by cornerback Jermod McCoy, who was recognized by the Jim Thorpe Award committee as National Defensive Back of the Week after the win at Oklahoma, Banks praised the third level’s consistency and talent despite entering the season with a limited amount of playing time.
“Like I told you guys, a lot of youth back there, inexperience,” Banks explained. “But I thought we had a talented group. They’re playing extremely consistent. They’re communicating at a high level. That’s what’s helping us play so well.”
Full comments from Banks and Pope can be viewed below, along with select quotes from McCoy.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Oct. 1, 2024
On if he’s been surprised by the play of the secondary… “No, you know like I told you guys, a lot of youth back there (and) inexperience, but I thought we had a talented group. They’re right where we thought they would be or hoped they would be. They’re playing extremely consistent. They’re communicating at a high level. I think that’s what’s given us a chance to play as well as we’re playing.”
On the challenge of preparing for a player like Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green… “I think you struck the chord where it needed to be. It’s just the eyes. Everybody has to be disciplined when he starts to scramble. He’s really made some plays down the field. He’s athletic enough to break contain and go for 80 (yards), but he’s also got a strong arm that he can throw it 80. We just have to do a good job, we have to be very disciplined, not just with the backend, but our front. Making sure that we’re containing him when we need to contain him, and linebackers need to be where they need to be. It’ll really be a collective group for us to contain this kid. He’s really special in terms of running and throwing.”
On what has led to cornerback Jermod McCoy’s strong start to the season… “Yeah, I think just his preparation. Those guys work really hard. I think coach (Willie Martinez), coach (Earnest Thomas III), coach (Taver Johnson), those guys have all done a really good job with the backend guys. We thought Jermod had a chance to be special, just based on what we saw in the spring, and it was a carryover to the fall. I just think his work ethic, his communication, he doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low. He’s very even keeled in terms of his preparation and how he performs on Saturdays. We’re excited for him, and we think his best football is still ahead of him to say the least.”
On what he saw on film that made him confident in McCoy coming out of the transfer portal… “I’d be lying if I told you we knew right away, but you can say that for any portal kid. We have a checklist of things that we’re looking for when you’re evaluating guys out of the portal. We liked his athleticism. We thought, with his background as a receiver, he had really good ball skills. I think the thing that really jumped out was how big he was when we got a chance to see him up close and in person. But we saw the ball skills on tape, we saw the fluidity in which he played with. For me personally, it was just his overall size once we saw him. We thought this kid had a chance to be special.”
On how much he has been impressed with the improved communication from the secondary… “I think it’s been great. You see it in practice and sometimes when you’re young it’s hard to take what you do in practice to the gamedays consistently. But, I thought those guys really worked at it. It’s not just corner to corner, safety to safety, sometimes talking to linebackers. It’s very broad stroke. I thought those guys have done a good job from then and now. If I’m being honest, I think we still have room to grow that will help those guys become even better, but I like the direction we’re heading.”
On how easy it is to call a defense when you have a defensive front playing so well… “Our d-line has done a tremendous job. All of the (publicity) they have probably gotten has been great. But when we talk about stopping the run, we talk about it as a collective group. It takes the corners doing their job, safeties doing their job. Sometimes the front gets the credit, sometimes the backend. At the end of the day, that’s always been the focal point for us, to be able to stop the run. It’s great the d-line is getting some of that (publicity). As a play caller, it makes it great, but again, everybody has to do their job for us to play the style that we want to play. Obviously, the d-line helps, they really do.”
On what is leading to the abundance of TFLs… “I think our kids play hard. They really do. That’s one thing that we’ve always preached since we got here. We want to play hard. We need to play as hard as we possibly can and leave it out on the field. When you play that hard, typically good things happen. Since day one, we’ve always tried to play on the other side of the line of scrimmage, whether we’re pressuring or we’re with our front and you’re just kind of seeing the fruits of that.”
On how the helmet communication has affected defensive play calling… “It’s kind of always a work in progress. I think for me, not yelling in it all the time, giving those guys a chance to be able to play football is awesome. But if you do have something to say that brings value in between plays, that’s been great as well. We’re still getting used to it. I think our kids like it. For me personally, just not giving them too much but giving them enough to be able to play as fast as they can. Like I said earlier, we want to play fast, we want to play hard, and I try not to tie up their mind with a lot of verbal communication.”
On how Coach Pope would assess the receiver play through four games… “I think we have had some success at points. I think our best is still out there. I really do. I think there’s a responsibility piece to that, that we continue to prepare and we’ll continue to see these guys grow and progress. I think we’ve had some success, but is it our max potential? I don’t think we’re anywhere close to that.”
On the advice he would give wide receiver Chas Nimrod in his return to his home state of Arkansas… “I think that’s the message. When guys are older and mature, they understand that. You just kind of talk to him about his preparation and things are going to happen the way they’re supposed to. Obviously, there’s a little bit more juice, a little bit more focus and attention there because he’s going back home. But I think as long as he continues to prepare the right way, I think you ultimately get the stuff that you want.”
On how the wide receiver room has adjusted to play to Nico Iamaleava’s strengths… “For one, we talk about Nico’s (Iamaleava) ability outside of the pocket. I think it’s forced those guys to really focus when plays break down, that they got to go be available and be targets for him. That’s really the biggest piece. The other thing is when you have a quarterback and you have a talent like that, he just allows you to go and use your talents, so really he makes it a lot easier on us than it would be without him. For the most part, the biggest thing is with him being dynamic outside the pocket. We have to make sure we’re being able to become targets for him whenever he’s outside the pocket.”
On how wide receiver Dont’e Thornton’s new mindset has helped him see more success on the field… “I think that’s probably the biggest thing that he’s done has helped him. That’s been his biggest benefit. For him, it’s just being able to go play free and play confident. As long as he’s doing that, I think we’ll continue to get the best version of him. You’re question about Chas (Nimrod) was going back home and you eliminate the distractions and the outside factors. When guys can just play free and confident, you typically get the best version of them. So, that’s what we’re seeing with him.”
On how difficult it is to manage the wide receiver rotation, especially with Dont’e Thornton’s increased production… “It’s a lot like basketball. You really have to identify what type of game it is. If you have a hot hand, you have to feed it. That’s really my mindset. He got a bunch of snaps last game, Bru (McCoy) as well because they were the hot hands. When you have a room like that, you have to be in tune and you have to be intentional with how the game is going, or who’s rolling, who’s hot right now. I think that helps you. Obviously, every guy is going to get an opportunity to get time, but that’s something you definitely have to be in tune with.”
On playing well without the ball… “I think at times it’s been awesome but sometimes it’s been inconsistent. I think even that part of our game the best has yet to come, our best is still out there. You see at times like Bru (McCoy) last game had a tough look on corners and he was able to fit a guy up without the ball and we created explosives. There are others where we don’t have that same focus and that same intention. It’s the whole group it’s not just one guy. For me as a coach, I have to continue to push these guys in practice to be consistent with that. I think we will continue to see it in games. At times it’s been really good, other times it’s just been okay. That’s an area we are going to continue to push.”
On what the receivers need to improve… “We have to go compete. This league is hard and every opponent we have in this league is going to be an elite opponent, we have to go compete. We have to do our best in practice. We have to focus and prepare our best in meetings. We have to strain and get everything we can because each week is gonna be hard, it’s going to be tough in this league. I think for us the mentality of guys going to strain and compete and go give our best every single week, and then let the cards fall as they may. I think that’s the mentality.”
On Chris Brazzell II… “Chris knows the system. He understands it, he’s been really good at times. Other times he hasn’t really been to the standard. Again, it’s something that starts in practice. As he continues to go, he’s obviously progressing and getting better. I think as long as he has the right focus and comes in with the right mentality, the sky will continue to be the limit for him. The consistency piece will continue to be the factor. If we can’t be consistent, you won’t see the best of anybody at any position. Consistency for him will be the key.”
On Mike Matthews’ development… “I’ve been impressed with his maturity, he’s grown up a ton. From a football knowledge standpoint, he wants to be a sponge. He is always asking questions, always in the building. He is a guy going down the stretch, that is going to continue to make plays for us. He’s a guy we are going to need to make plays on the outside.”
On the receivers preparing for Arkansas… “They have to know who they are going against. They have to know tendencies and what to expect. That is something at the beginning of the week we really harp on is personnel. I said earlier, in this league, you are going to play against elite personnel every week. That’s our main focus initially, but as we get throughout the week, the scheme becomes more of the focus point. Their personnel is really good, we are playing a really good opponent. We are looking forward to going into a tough environment and competing our butts off.”
On when he felt good within the defense… “I would say before the season, then playing through the first four games solidified that and made me feel way more confident in the defense.”
On what has made the defense work… “I think everyone has done an amazing job. Our communication has been so good pre-snap (and) post-snap. When we see something we will tell each other and try to clean it up. The communication between us is elite.”
On why the defense has been playing well… “Our communication and the bond that we have. We are super tied in together and that shows on the field.”
