EPA's Hurricane Helene Response Activities: Tennessee

Douglas Lake Cleanup

On July 31, 2025, EPA completed its post-Hurricane Helene cleanup of Douglas Lake in partnership with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Jefferson County. EPA’s efforts to support recovery from Hurricane Helene was focused on Douglas Lake and included: 

EPA’s role was to support the Debris Removal Task Force by:

• providing a hazardous materials technical specialist to the task force.
• ensuring proper management and disposition of debris in a manner protective of human health and the environment.
• ensuring that non-vegetative debris, such as household hazardous waste and propane tanks were properly segregated, staged and disposed of.