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By Robert Sorrell

Star Correspondent

The Carter County Commission approved a motion Tuesday to seek help from the federal government to repair waterway banks damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Commissioners unanimously agreed to accept federal assistance under the Natural Resources Conservation Service Emergency Watershed Protection Program to restore damages and impairments and to remove imminent hazards to life and property caused by the hurricane. The hurricane, which swept through the region on Sept. 27, 2024, caused extensive flooding in Carter County, damaging streams, roads, bridges, and culverts.

The motion grants the county mayor the authority to execute all necessary documentation on behalf of the county to formally accept assistance.

Schaus LLC Vice President Sonya Shows, who is assisting the county with disaster relief, told commissioners that waterway banks must be stabilized in order for the county to work on damaged roads and bridges. She estimated that repairing the banks will cost about $2 million.

To identify projects in need of repair, Shows said her team and the NRCS traveled around the county, walking along stream and river banks.

During the meeting, Carter County Highway Department Supervisor Shannon Burchett provided updates on county highway road projects. He estimates damages to exceed $28 million, with repairs potentially taking two to three years to complete.

In addition, Burchett informed commissioners that engineering costs for two damaged bridges in Poga are estimated at $298,000 and $350,000, respectively. He has yet to receive an estimate for the cost of repairing the bridges. Similarly, no estimate is currently available for repairing the damaged Long Hollow Bridge.

Commissioners also approved motions to move forward with the Hazard Mitigation Application Process and an addendum to the contract with Schaus LLC. Shows explained that her company was originally hired to assist the county with public assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The addendum adds services involving Hazard Mitigation, which is not related to FEMA funding.

Several commissioners expressed concerns about hiring Schaus to assist with Hazard Mitigation without a cap on the contract. However, the motion passed 16-7.

The commission also heard from the Carter County Rescue Squad about establishing operations in Poga, which was heavily devastated by Hurricane Helene. The Rescue Squad plans to set up a temporary site in Poga to respond to emergency calls. Currently, a health clinic and the Carter County Sheriff’s Office have set up temporary locations in the community. Commissioner Angie Odom offered to provide a trailer for the site.