The Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group community expo at Johnson County High School on April 3 had scores of people stop by to visit one of the over 15 organizations on hand to inquire about support and help. Photo by Thomas Sherrill
The Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group community expo at Johnson County High School on April 3 had scores of people stop by to visit one of the over 15 organizations on hand to inquire about support and help. Photo by Thomas Sherrill
More than 15 different recovery, aid and local organizations took part in a “rebuilding after the storm†expo on Thursday, April 3, at Johnson County High School.
The event was one of many the Johnson County Long Term Recovery group, a collaboration of nonprofits, churches and other organizations, held the first week of April, more than six months after Hurricane Helene ravaged Northeast Tennessee.
Along with vital information being shared to help people receive funding and support, there was food, toiletries and occasional hugs and tears being shared.
Kim Reece, executive director of the organization, said that along with people she’s seen at various other events seeking support, she saw new people coming forward for the first time.
Reece said people are in different stages of recovery and that this phase can go on for two or three years.
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint,†Reece said of hurricane recovery.
On April 2, the group announced new team members from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and an outreach coordinator. The long-term recovery group will start offering case management services this week and will receive signups at the expo.
According to media reports, the long term recovery group received a $233,852k commitment from the Mountain Ways nonprofit earlier in the week. A clothing and shoe distribution was held April 1 in Pioneer Village in front of Fred’s and a HOME Disaster Recovery program was held April 2 at the National Guard Armory.
Reece said so far, they are aware of 72 Johnson County homes that were completely destroyed by Helene, with another 200-plus suffering damages.
For more information on the Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group, visit , or visit its headquarters at 2303 S. Shady St., next to Food Lion, or call 423-440-2883.
