The mayor of Cocke County provides an update on the removal of debris in Helene

COCKE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) – Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis spoke with WVLT News on Tuesday and provided an update on the details surrounding debris cleanup from Hurricane Helene.

“It’s easy to think of this as rubble, but it’s so much more than that,” Mathis said. “These are people’s homes.”

It’s only been more than two months since the storm hit the county, but Mathis said there’s still a lot of work to be done.

“We have to clean up all this stuff before people can really start rebuilding,” Mathis said. “You have to get rid of everything old before you can start with the new.”

Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) crews are clearing debris along state and county highways. There are huge piles of rubble in Newport, divided between man-made and plant debris. Mathis said the large piles are only a small percentage of what still needs to be collected.

The mayor said the county is working to subcontract its own cleanup work. He said he hopes this will help speed up the cleanup process.

“It adds urgency so we can get these things underway and get out of people’s way so they can begin the rebuilding process,” Mathis said. “They are rebuilding not just their homes, but their lives.”

Mathis said the county is trying to prioritize hiring local companies for the cleanup effort. Local contractors can call 865-635-1688 for more information.

Mathis said community members can also help by sorting their trash between man-made trash and vegetation. He said it saves crews time sorting after pickup. He added that if people are able to move debris onto public roads, access will be easier for crews.

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