JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — The destruction left by Hurricane Helene is still visible on the shoreline of Douglas Lake, where debris continues to accumulate, leaving residents eager to begin cleanup efforts but uncertain about how to proceed safely.
Tony Stover, a homeowner on the lake, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from Tennessee agencies regarding the cleanup process.
“I would love to get down right now and start piling it up and doing it, but I don’t want to do it if it’s going to create an issue for my health,” Stover said.
The state has issued a safety advisory, urging people to stay off the lake as debris presents significant hazards with the potential to cause injury or death. Stover and his neighbors are seeking guidance on how to clear their properties without risking contamination.
“What are we allowed to do? Are we allowed to pile it up and burn it? Would that be okay, or would that be bad for our health, knowing there could be contaminants in that, that would burn and pollute the air?” Stover said.
Stover said that the lack of information about the status of the watershed has left him and other residents in the dark.
"The lack of information about what's going on with the watershed has been really, it's just non-existent," he said.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has committed to restoring normal conditions to the lake but homeowners, while appreciative of these efforts, are anxious to know what actions they can take.
“What’s the best plan of attack to help out? Because everybody on the lake, you know, everybody wants to do their part,” Stover said.
We reached out to TEMA on Monday for answers to Stover's questions, but have not yet received a response.
TEMA will hold an open house next week to discuss the debris removal project at Douglas Lake. The event, which is open to the public, will take place Monday, Nov. 25 at the Field of Dreams Activity Center from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.