Multi-Agency Resource Centers
Survivors in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties can apply for FEMA Individual Assistance (IA).
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has established two Multi-Agency Resource Centers for individuals affected by Hurricane Helene. Each Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will be staffed with personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal, state, and regional partners to ensure residents have access to all available resources following the flooding event. TEMA is working with impacted communities to identify additional locations for MARCs, as needed, to serve all impacted community members.
MARCs will be open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Please note: some services may offer abbreviated hours.
Elizabethton: 1749 HWY 19E, Elizabethton, TN 37643
Jonesborough: 306 Forest Dr., Jonesborough, TN 37659
Newport: 466 Learning Road Newport, TN 37821*
* Depending on the navigation service you are using, the address may show up as 466 Learning Way.
In addition to visiting the MARC locations, survivors can apply for FEMA IA:
- Online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov
- By phone at 1-800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available.
Those eligible for FEMA’s IA program may receive help with rental assistance, home repair, and personal property replacement, in addition to other uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. More information on FEMA’s IA program can be found here.
In addition to TEMA and FEMA, survivors can also speak to other state agencies and departments at the MARCs. Below is a list of agencies and departments and the services that may be provided in the MARC.
State Resources
The Tennessee Department of Human Services is providing a multitude of services at the MARC locations:
- Child Care Services: TDHS is responsible for licensing and monitoring child and adult care facilities in Tennessee. The department also facilitates child care payment assistance for qualifying families. Parents, early educators and care providers can also find valuable information and related supports through Child Care Resource and Referrals Centers and kidcentralTN.com. Tennesseans who need to submit a complaint about a care facility or the illegal operation of a care facility shouldcall 800-462-8261.
- Child Support: The TDHS Child Support Program helps families by locating parents for the purpose of obtaining support, establishing the parentage, enforcing of child support orders, collecting and distributing child support payments, coordinating across state lines for child support purposes and reviewing and adjusting child support orders.
- Families First (TANF): Families First, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, provides temporary cash assistance, transportation, child care assistance, educational supports, job training, employment activities, and other support services to qualifying families with children under the age of 18. Participants are required to commit to a Personal Responsibility Plan that outlines actions required to receive services.
- Adult Protective Services and the Social Service Block Grant Program: The Adult Protective Services team partners with law enforcement, health care professionals and partner organizations, (including Social Services Block Grant Program recipients) to prevent, investigate, and resolve reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect and financial exploitation of adults who are unable to protect themselves due to a physical or mental limitation. Tennesseans can help stop and prevent abuse by calling 1-888- 277-8366 or completing an online form to report suspected abuse at TN.Gov/HumanServices/Adults/Adult-Protective-Services.html.
- Services for Tennesseans with Disabilities: The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) at the Tennessee Department of Human Services offers an extensive variety of supports to help Tennesseans with disabilities, including high school age students, find higher levels of independence through employment, accessibility tools, regional Rehabilitation Centers, a residential training facility, entrepreneurship and other resources. DRS is also responsible for processing Social Security Disability Insurance and income applications.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Summer EBT: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federally funded nutritional support program administered at the state level. SNAP uses electronic benefit card (EBT) to distribute benefits to qualifying families that can be used to purchase groceries at participating stores and online retailers.
- Summer Food Service Program: The Summer Food Service program (SFSP) works with community organizations to provide free meals to children during summer months. Families can locate a meal site by texting “Summer Meals” to 97779 or calling 866-348-6479 or visiting FNS.USDA.Gov/SummerFoodRocks.
If your job was impacted by the flooding, you may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). DUA is a federal unemployment program administered by the state of Tennessee. DUA provides temporary benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance (UI). Direct result means loss of employment or self-employment because of the major disaster itself and not the result of a longer chain of events caused or worsened by the disaster.
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) will have representatives at the MARC locations to assist survivors with apply for DUA.
For more information about DUA, visit TDLWD's website.
Other resources that will be provided by TDLWD at the MARC locations:
- Mobile American Job Centers: Individuals impacted by a natural disaster will be able to access a variety of resources available to them at one of Tennessee’s mobile American Job Centers (MAJC). Each MAJC has computers, workstations, and a copier available to individuals who need to file for unemployment insurance benefits, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or need help with their search for new employment. The computers on the MAJC have internet access. They are equipped with Microsoft Office and other software packages job seekers need to search for employment opportunities. Career specialists are available to help participants look for employment and assist with job seeker services.
- Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants: If requested and approved by the Employment and Training Administration, this grant can provide disaster-relief employment and employment and training services to minimize the impact of large, unexpected emergencies and natural disasters causing significant job losses. Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grants create temporary employment opportunities to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts and provide humanitarian assistance in impacted areas. The funding may also be used to temporarily expand capacity to serve dislocated workers and meet the increased demand for employment and training services, thus enhancing their employability and earnings.
Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is providing the following community resources at the MARC locations:
- 988
- TN Red Line for Addiction Services
- Non-Emergency MentalHe alth Services Providers Contact Information
- Behavioral Health Safety Net information
- Local Addiction Service Providers Contact Information
Driver Services Division is issuing duplicate identification licenses and drivers licenses at the MARC locations. In addition to the MARC locations, services are also being offered at the Elizabethton Drivers Services Center, Newport Grammar School, and Unicoi Police Department. All three locations are open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET.
The Elizabethton Driver Services Center is now offering expanded services. In addition to the free duplicate licenses for flood survivors, any Tennessean can complete a road skills and vision test, obtain a driver license, commercial driver license, REAL ID, photo ID, or update, replace, and renew their driver license. The temporary Driver Services locations at the Unicoi Police Department and Newport Grammar School will continue to offer free duplicate licenses through Oct. 11, 2024. These locations will not provide services to the public, only flood victims.
Temporary Driver Services Locations:
Elizabethton Driver Services Center
1741 HWY 19 E Bypass Elizabethton, TN 37643
Newport Grammar School
301 College Street Newport, TN 37821
Unicoi Police Department
3600 Unicoi Drive Unicoi, TN 37692
Federal Resources
Individual Assistance
Designated Counties: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington
FEMA's Individual Assistance (IA) program may assist with rental assistance, home repair, and personal property replacement, in addition to other uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. More information on FEMA’s IA program can be found here.
Public Assistance
ONLY Categories A and B: Claiborne, Grainger, Sevier, and Sullivan
Categories A and B, C-G: Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington
FEMA's Public Assistance (PA) program assists eligible jurisdictions and certain private, non-profit organizations quickly respond to and recover from major disasters. To learn more about FEMA's PA program, visit their website.
The U.S. Small Business Adminstration (SBA) will have representatives at the Jonesborough MARC, located Old Jonesborough Elementary Library, 306 Forrest Drive, Jonesborough, TN 37659.
SBA's Customer Service Representatives are available to answer questions, assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application's status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance.
For more information about SBA resources, visit their website.