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Hurricane Helene Resources

DRT is closely monitoring the storm damage in East Tennessee. We know many of our neighbors have been affected and DRT and Tennessee’s disability partners are actively involved in recovery efforts. We are here to support those affected and connect you with the resources you need.

We will continue to maintain a list of organizations prepared to assist East Tennesseans with disabilities and/or mental illness in Helene’s aftermath. If you have additional information or resources to share, please reach out. Stay safe, TN and NC—we’re all in this together.

Contacts and Resources:

Disability Rights Tennessee: William Moore (Advocate) WilliamM@DisabilityRightsTN.org; Eric Allman (Advocate), EricA@DisabilityRightsTN.org; Nicole Allen (Voting Coordinator) NicoleA@DisabilityRightsTN.org

  • Resource Navigation: Helping community members connect with available resources.
  • Volunteer Efforts: Organizing community volunteer groups for assistance.
  • Voter Resources
  • Information Dissemination

Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities: Ashley Edwards, Assistant to the Executive Director, Ashley.Edwards@TN.gov

  • Resource Navigation: With a state-wide lens of disability services, the Council can help coordinate cross-agency resources and connections to leverage consistency and streamlining of resources that match the needs of Tennesseans.
  • Volunteer Outreach
  • Citizen Experts: Governor-appointed Council members residing in East Tennessee, connected to a network for grass-roots disability organizations and resources, can provide expert-level disability information as needed
  • Information Dissemination

Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC): Edward Mitchell, Executive Director (phone) 615-255-0283 or www.SILCTN.org

  • Resource Navigation: Helping community members connect with available resources through the 6 centers of independent living.
  • Volunteer Efforts: Organizing community volunteer groups for assistance.
  • Supplies Available: Accessible trailer, durable medical equipment (DME)
  • Information Dissemination

Securing Accessibility for Emergencies (SAFE): Carly Pearson, Carly.Pearson@KnoxCounty.org, (phone) 865-215-3603, 865-318-9310; Stephanie Brewer Cook, SCook@KnoxvilleTN.gov, (phone) 865-216-6288

  • Resource Navigation: Helping community members connect with available resources.
  • Volunteer Efforts: Organizing community volunteer groups for assistance.
  • Information Dissemination

SPARK: Mary Thom Adams, Executive Director MTAdams@SPARKTN.org, (phone) 865-219-0130 x223

  • Resource Navigation: Helping community members connect with available resources.
  • Supplies Available: Durable Medical Equipment, Daily Living Devices
  • Information Dissemination

Mental Health Association of East Tennessee: Ben Harrington, Executive Director, Ben@MHAET.com, (phone) 865.584.9125

  • Resource Navigation: Helping community members connect with available mental health resources.
  • Information Dissemination

Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (BridgesEAST): Andrew Metcalf (Director), Andrew@BridgesForDeafAndHH.org; Sydnee Saucedo (Empowerment Coordinator), Sydnee@BridgesForDeafAndHH.org; Carrie Jo Welty (Outreach Coordinator), CJ@BridgesForDeafAndHH.org. May also contact Eric Workman (VP, Interpreting Services), Eric@BridgesForDeafAndHH.org or Nancy Denning-Martin Martin (CEO), Nancy@BridgesForDeafAndHH.org. Assisting the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and hard of hearing. BridgesEAST local numbers: 423-818-1222(Voice), 423-615-9051 (videophone). BridgesDHH numbers: 615-248-8828 (voice), 615-290-5147 (videophone).

  • Office Hours: Empowerment and Outreach teams available to assist with TEMA/FEMA paperwork, insurance, supplies, and more.
  • Resource Navigation: Helping community members connect with available resources.
  • Supplies Available: Bottled water, diapers, canned food, and cleaning supplies for pick-up or delivery.
  • Hot Meals: Coordinating with groups to provide hot meals for those without power.
  • Laundry Services: Offered as needed.
  • Interpreters: Providing interpreters for press briefings and advocating for accessible information (captions, transcripts, etc.) for the Deaf, hard of hearing, and Deaf-Blind.
  • Emergency Coordination: Working with TEMA, FEMA, and local emergency management offices to identify needs and provide access services.
  • Volunteer Efforts: Organizing community volunteer groups for assistance.
  • Information Dissemination