Gov. Bill Lee and other state and federal officials traveled to northeast Tennessee on Saturday to survey catastrophic flood damage in several counties in the wake of Tropical Storm Helene. Lee was accompanied by First Lady Maria Lee,

Governor Bill Lee surveyed flooding damage in the eastern part of Tennessee, after Hurricane Helene hit the area with heavy rains.The governor toured the damage

FEMA announced federal disaster assistance was available for state and eligible local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in Cocke, Hawkins and Washington counties.

Lee commended the separate agencies on their work together, thanking them for their organization and efforts in keeping the community safe.

Flooding from Hurricane Helene has severely impacted parts of East Tennessee, with Middle Tennessee seeing rain and wind.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has declared a state of emergency after catastrophic flooding hit swaths of East Tennessee courtesy of Hurricane Helene.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee surveyed flooding damage in the eastern part of the state, after Hurricane Helene hit the area with heavy rains. (AP Video by Kristin M. Hall)

Gov. Bill Lee along with state officials including Deputy Gov. and Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Butch Eley, completed the survey of storm damage in upper East Tennessee. According to TDOT,