Helene Through Their Eyes

Three TSUAg Extension Agents reflect on the devastation of Hurricane Helene | By

TSUAg Extension Agents Danielle Pleasant, Jack Price and Lane Brooks

On September 27 Hurricane Helene ravaged northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina leaving massive damage and needs in its wake. Even before the waters receded, Tennessee State University College of Agriculture (TSUAg) Extension agents were responding to needs in our communities, helping to coordinate incoming relief efforts while continuing to connect individuals to resources throughout our affected areas. Additionally, many of our fellow agents and 4-H program alumni reached out in support and started coordinating aid to send to affected areas.

The devastation in each of our communities is difficult to describe. Physically, the landscape is forever changed, roadways destroyed, crops ruined, houses washed away, and lives lost; however, the mental, emotional, and financial recovery that our communities face will continue to be felt far into the future. As we traveled across the region, we came to the realization that each county was impacted differently but the pain and suffering were the same.

The needs in each impacted community were different, the levels of destruction were different, and the losses were different. The sheer magnitude of destruction can’t be imagined or calculated in a personal sense. The landscape has changed so much that we will never see these picturesque areas through the same lens. No one was prepared for a disaster of this magnitude, however, the support and outreach have uplifted our communities and left each of us humbled and grateful.

Extension agents serve as the arm of outreach for land grant universities Tennessee State University and the

University of Tennessee. Through the Cooperative Extension program, Extension agents bring researchbased information from the university to local communities. Through this historic disaster, Extension agents had to wear many different hats and take on new roles, but they still did what they do best, served their communities and served them well.

Despite flooding in three UT-TSU Extension offices, agents were committed to helping each other and their communities. Lane Brooks, a new TSU Extension Agent in Cocke County, began his tenure by immediately addressing the destruction, packing up materials, and coordinating efforts to maintain community support.

The Hawkins County team served in Carter, Greene and Cocke counties by serving as a drop off hub and headquarters while also delivering the needed materials to surrounding churches, extension offices and other points for distribution in our neighboring counties.

Our Hawkins County 4-H Honor Club members and extension staff were very instrumental in getting the Carter County Office moved due to extensive damage. Office staff also assisted with hay deliveries and farm equipment distribution at the Appalachian Fairgrounds. We also were able to ship water and cleaning supplies to Cocke County via partners and volunteers simply wanting to assist their neighbors.

Major infrastructure damage in Johnson County left many individuals and communities isolated. The Extension team immediately began connecting resources and donations to individuals in need. During this time, 4-H Agent Danielle Pleasant received a phone call from

Doris, a donor in West Virginia. Upon answering the call, Doris first asked, “Are you the one with the successful 4-H horse judging team?”

Doris was so positively impacted by her involvement in 4-H as a young person, some fifty years prior, that she wanted to give back through 4-H; a program that had given her so many opportunities and helped her learn skills that contributed to her success. Doris made plans to drive about nine hours to deliver supplies to Johnson County. “As an Extension Agent, I can only hope to leave such a lasting impact with my 4-H’ers, as her agent once did,” said Danielle.

4-H Youth Development Extension agents work with local school systems, volunteers and program partners to deliver educational programs and learning opportunities for youth to learn and develop essential life-skills such as communication, decisionmaking, setting and achieving goals just to name a few.

Throughout this crisis, agents, along with many of our partners and volunteers have had the joy of seeing our youth step into leadership roles and serve their communities as well as their neighboring counties. From helping with debris clean-up, coordinating and organizing donations, to volunteering at resource sites and preparing meals, our youth have shown us that they are not the leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders today.

East Tennessee is a unique community, descending from Scotch Irish ancestry, they are a tough, resilient and proud people. This gives them a will to survive and come back with determination. This too is what our Extension Agent family displayed in this time of destruction. Whether it was taking calls and directing folks to needed resources, unloading hay and farm supplies or physically going out and assisting with clean-up these folks stepped up to the plate.

The UT-TSU Extension family performed flawlessly. Extension continues to play an important role in the long-term recovery for our communities by providing trusted information and resources to those we serve. AL