TEMA: 109 total missing in Washington, Unicoi counties

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) listed 62 people missing in Washington County and 47 in Unicoi County in its latest update early Sunday evening — though authorities believe many of those people are safe and just unreachable by phone.

TEMA’s report also listed four people missing in Johnson County and 40 in “other surrounding counties.” As of 6 p.m., only two deaths had been confirmed: one in Johnson County and one in Unicoi County.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has a hotline to coordinate reports of missing persons in the areas affected by the recent flooding in Northeast Tennessee. Callers to 1-800-824-3463 should be prepared to relay as much identifying information as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification, and last known whereabouts.

TBI had received 337 calls seeking information about people in Northeast Tennessee as of 1 p.m. Sunday.

TEMA also reported that Erwin’s wastewater treatment plant in Unicoi County and Mountain City’s wastewater treatment plant in Johnson County were impacted by the storm.

Several area counties have now been deemed eligible for emergency protective measures that include direct federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA has authorized Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures including direct federal assistance at 75 percent federal funding for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Johnson, and Unicoi counties.

The agency has been authorized to provide Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support at 75 percent federal funding for Hawkins and Washington counties.