On Thursday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee unveiled the Helene Emergency Assistance Loans (HEAL) Program, a $100 million fund that will allocate $35 million to address water and wastewater system damage across eligible counties, and $65 million to address dangerous debris removal.
The thirteen eligible counties in east Tennessee may opt-in for the no-interest loans, which are funded by TennCare Shared Savings. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) will distribute funds accordingly.
The HEAL funds will provide immediate financial relief for communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Governor Lee said he expects the federal government will reimburse the funds at a later date.