COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. — As Cocke County neighbors work to rebuild their homes, some neighbors say they're left in limbo. This comes as the county is involved with a flooding program by the Federal Emergency Management Agency called the National Flood Insurance Program.
The program requires people in flood zones to abide by federal rules when rebuilding. Ed Hardison is one of several neighbors in Cocke County working to rebuild after Hurricane Helene.
"My garage, my home, it all ended up about 2,000 yards down the river," said Hardison.
He lives just feet away from the Nolichukey River. The National Flood Insurance Program can play a role in how neighbors like Hardison rebuild.
"I already plan to build back better anyway. I'll do that on my own, I don't need the government to tell me to do that," Hardison said.
County leaders met Tuesday night to discuss the county's future involvement with the program. Right now - the county is part of it but some neighbors call on the county to opt out.
According to Cocke County, the county opted out twice from the program in its history. The county later rejoined the program within a year. The County's latest "Flood Damage Prevention Resolution" is from 2012.
"They never had FEMA or TEMA to come in during the whole history of being there. Why now? Why the urgency of this today?" said Debbie Torrence, a local neighbor.
County leader Norman Smith said the option to leave or stay will come with its own barriers.
"Even though we've been a member of this for years, we never had a disaster like this to this magnitude," said the chairman of the Cocke County legislative body.
Some commissioners describe the decision as a lose-lose situation. If the county stays with the program — neighbors will have to abide by guidelines. This includes people who have already begun rebuilding their homes.
"What they are trying to do is regulate the poor," Torrence said.
If the county leaves the program — neighbors won't be able to buy flood insurance through it.
Some neighbors could be left uninsured or have to buy more expensive insurance. People see the NIFP program not as a restoration effort, but as a relocation effort.
A representative with TEMA said future disaster relief money could be less if the county is not in the program. The Cocke County Legislative Body will meet again on Tuesday.
They hope to agree in the next meeting.
"There's no help getting flood insurance for any future development," said Norman Smith.
According to Cocke County, 129 people in the county have flood insurance through NFID. The Cocke County Legislative Body will meet again on Tuesday. They hope to come to an agreement in the next meeting.