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The Carter County Mayor’s Office has released its weekly update on disaster assistance resources available to residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. The update includes progress on bridge repairs, medical clinic services, FEMA document processing, and prescription assistance.

Repairs to Poga Bridges
The first temporary bridge in Poga has been successfully installed, while installation for the second temporary bridge is set to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Officials are requesting that the existing bridge be used exclusively for emergency services during this time. General traffic on the bridge could cause delays in the installation process due to the need for intermittent openings to facilitate the work.

Elk Mills/Poga Medical Clinic
A medical clinic serving the Elk Mills and Poga communities will continue to provide weekly services every Thursday during January and February. Staffed by ETSU Family Medicine, the clinic operates from noon until 4-4:30 p.m. and serves walk-in patients only.

The clinic is located at 107 Poga Road, Butler.

Document Processing Centers (DPCs)
Following the closure of FEMA’s Disaster Resource Centers on Jan. 7, three locations have reopened as Document Processing Centers.

DPCs allow disaster survivors to submit documents related to assistance applications, follow up on their cases, and work on appeals of decisions. All centers are open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Jan. 24.

The DPC locations include:

• Carter County – Carter County Public Library, 201 N. Sycamore St., Elizabethton
• Johnson County – National Guard Armory, 923 S. Shady St., Mountain City
• Unicoi County – National Guard Armory/Unicoi Emergency Operations Center, 615 S. Main Ave., Erwin

Prescription Assistance
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for uninsured residents of Tennessee who need to replace prescription medicines or medical equipment lost or damaged due to Hurricane Helene.

Residents can learn more about the program and apply for assistance by visiting https://aspr.hhs.gov/epap. The deadline to apply has been extended to April 1, 2025.

Carter County continues its efforts to support residents in recovery, providing essential resources and services to assist with ongoing needs. Residents are encouraged to contact the mayor’s office for further updates or information.