More Than $65 Million in Total Projects Obligated and Nearly 100 Homes Rebuilt

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (July 31, 2026) — Nearly two years after the historic destruction brought by Hurricane Helene, Washington County has reached substantial financial and community recovery milestones with infrastructure projects, robust fiscal management and significant progress in housing reconstruction.

To date, $44 million in projects have been officially obligated by FEMA, clearing the way for heavy construction and cost recovery. With upcoming project bids factored in, total obligated recovery work across the county is slated to surpass $65 million.

“Our financial tracking shows we are holding a strong balance between our direct investments and incoming reimbursements,” said Mayor Joe Grandy. “We have expended approximately $25 million — including $21 million through the highway department for roads and bridges, $1.6 million through solid waste and $2.6 million from the general fund — while successfully recovering nearly $20 million through TEMA, FEMA and specialized river mitigation funding.”

Mitch Meredith, the county’s director of finance and administration, said the state legislature’s decision to cover the interest expense on debt issued for Helene recovery projects — combined with the county’s foresight to issue enough debt to cash-flow those projects — has allowed normal county operations to continue without disruption. Coupled with meticulous tracking and aggressive coordination with state and federal partners, the county’s recovery efforts and financial operations remain on solid fiscal footing.

“Balancing the immediate operational needs of our departments with long-term capital rebuilding has been a monumental undertaking,” Meredith said. “We are ensuring that every recovery dollar is maximized to protect our taxpayers and stabilize our budget.”

Infrastructure Projects

Washington County and regional state partners have completed numerous vital infrastructure and roadway restorations to reconnect communities severed by the floodwaters. Key completed projects include:

• Alfred Taylor Bridge (State Route 81): Rebuilt and reopened via an accelerated progressive design-build delivery method, restoring this critical Nolichucky River crossing ahead of schedule.
• Bailey Bridge (State Route 353): Finalized major structural repairs, marking the completion of TDOT’s regional storm recovery network across Washington County.
• Local Roadways and Arterials: Extensive clearing, embankment stabilization and paving projects managed by the Washington County Highway Department, restoring full transit safety across miles of flood-damaged municipal corridors.

A cornerstone of ongoing long-term infrastructure reconstruction is the replacement of the Corby Bridge, which was completely leveled by the storm's floodwaters:

• An initial $8 million has been obligated to rebuild the Corby Bridge, covering engineering, site preparation and initial planning.
• Total project costs are expected to be in the $25 million to $30 million range, with an additional $20 million scheduled for obligation following the bidding process.

An additional $3.6 million has cleared FEMA approval and is currently moving through final TEMA processing, with funds expected to hit county accounts in the coming weeks.

Community and Housing Projects

Beyond structural concrete and asphalt, the county has emphasized the human element of the recovery, noting the extraordinary mobilization of local volunteers, non-profits and dozens of partner organizations.

• Out of 119 homes completely lost to the disaster, 83 homes have been fully rebuilt and are occupied.
• Another 18 homes are currently under construction.
• Within the approximate two-year window, the community is on track to successfully rebuild more than 100 homes for displaced families.

“Seeing our neighbors lose their homes was an unimaginable tragedy, but thanks to the tireless work of literally thousands of people and dozens of organizations, we are seeing families move back into safe, permanent housing,” Grandy stated. “We still have hard work ahead of us, but our financial footing and community resilience have never been stronger.”