Memphis Standard

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn recently visited the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center at Bristol Motor Speedway. The center is currently a significant site for donations and collections, logistics for search-and-rescue operations, and hosts a regional disaster relief hotline. Following her tour, Senator Blackburn was joined by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger in addressing the media.

The visit also included an update from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) regarding repair efforts on I-40 in Cocke County. This roadway is essential as it connects North Carolina with Tennessee. After receiving this update, Senator Blackburn, along with Governor Lee, Representative Harshbarger, Senator Bill Hagerty, Commissioner of Transportation for Tennessee and Deputy Governor Butch Eley, and other officials participated in a media session.

Senator Blackburn expressed gratitude towards those involved in the recovery efforts: “I want to say a heartfelt thank you to the Governor’s team and to the TDOT Commissioner for working so quickly on all of this." She also highlighted resources available to Tennesseans needing assistance through her website blackburn.senate.gov/Helene. Additionally, she announced that pop-up office hours would begin soon in affected counties to help residents access necessary federal resources.