GREENE COUNTY, Tenn. — Students and their families are still recovering from Hurricane Helene, almost two months after it brought historic and deadly flooding to East Tennessee and swept away communities. In Greene County, several students have been affected by the floods.
Chris Malone, who works with the Greene County School District, worked alongside a group of school staff to help students and families pick up the pieces after Hurricane Helene.
"The word that we've been using is 'Greene County Strong,'" he said. "I've told people that I've seen the best of humanity."
The school district said 11 of its 15 schools were still recovering from the storm. Hurricane Helene's flooding rose water levels to the point they flooded homes, ravaged buildings and knocked out its water system for days.
"I talked to people who said the sounds they heard were the trees breaking, the river roaring," said Mullone. "While the initial shock is over, the need is still there."
Leaders said 71 students were affected across the district. Of those, 21 students lost everything 50 saw damage to their homes. Alisha Ricker, who works with the Family Resource Center in Greene County, said the center has been providing financial relief for families' utility bills.
"Missing those wages and not being able to work left a lot of bills not being paid," she said. "To help them get through that hardship, they are so thankful."
School buses loaded with donations have also been brought into the county. With the holiday season around the corner, school leaders also said they hope some festive cheer would bright the community as its stays strong and stands together.
WBIR, in partnership with Walmart and the FBI Knoxville Citizens Academy Alumni Association, will host the "Hope for the Holidays Toy Drive." Toys donated from this toy drive will benefit children and families impacted by Hurricane Helene in Cocke, Greene, and Unicoi Counties. To learn where toys can be bought and donated visit this link.
The toy drive goes until Nov. 15.