Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene, Johnson County has come a long way — but the work isn’t finished.
This week on The Johnson County Line, Dan Cullinane and Sheila Stout Caldwell sit down with Becky Wright of the Johnson County Long Term Recovery Group for a candid conversation about where recovery stands today, the families who still need help, and the remarkable volunteers and organizations that continue to show up.
There is plenty of good news to share. More than 700 homes have been restored, and Mennonite Disaster Service has committed to rebuilding 31 homes and repairing another 108.
But Becky reminds us that behind those numbers are neighbors who are still waiting — some living with mold, damaged floors and foundations, leaking ceilings, and other serious problems nearly two years after the storm.
So what can the rest of us do?
More than you might think.
Becky talks with us about ways to volunteer — even if you don’t have construction skills or can only spare an hour — and how something as simple as sharing information can help keep the recovery effort moving forward.
We also look ahead to the Community Preparedness Event at Ralph Stout Park on Saturday, September 19, from noon–4 p.m. It’s an opportunity to hear recovery stories, learn how to better prepare your family for future emergencies, meet organizations serving our community, and find your own way to get involved.
And, of course, Dan and Sheila catch up on some of the other stories we’ve been following and what’s happening Around Town.
Two years later, this isn’t simply a story about what happened to Johnson County.
It’s a conversation about where we are now, what still needs to be done — and how we continue moving forward together.
Watch this week’s episode of The Johnson County Line below.
Local Voices. Local Stories. Local Conversations.
The Johnson County Line is an independently produced public affairs podcast by Dan Cullinane and Sheila Stout Caldwell.
ABOUT THE JOHNSON COUNTY LINE
The Johnson County Line is an independently produced public affairs podcast created and hosted by Dan Cullinane and Sheila Caldwell, covering local issues, people, events, and conversations in Johnson County, Tennessee.
Views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Johnson County Line, its hosts or contributors. Commentary and opinion are identified as such. Information presented is based on sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication and may be updated or corrected as additional information becomes available.
Community opinion polls conducted by The Johnson County Line are non-scientific and are intended to encourage community participation and conversation. Results should not be interpreted as statistically representative of the population of Johnson County.
The Johnson County Line is not affiliated with Johnson County Government, the Town of Mountain City, or any political party, candidate, or campaign.
The Johnson County Line
Local Voices. Local Stories. Local Conversations.
