TRI-CITIES, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said Hurricane Helene victims in East Tennessee have begun moving into temporary housing units provided by the agency’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.

Families and individuals who lost their homes during Helene’s devastating flooding in late September–and applied for assistance through FEMA–started moving into temporary housing placed near their communities.

“Temporary Housing Assistance is available to eligible survivors in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties to bring some comfort and stability as survivors recover and their homes are restored,” a release from FEMA on Tuesday states.

According to FEMA, once a recovery assistance recipient takes possession of a FEMA unit, they are required to do three things every 30 days:

• Demonstrate a continued need for housing assistance.
• Recertify their eligibility.
• Show they are making progress toward a permanent housing solution.

Those occupying a FEMA housing unit could be eligible to stay there for up to 18 months from the date the disaster was declared. FEMA said each recipient is required to sign and comply with a licensing agreement that covers the duration of their stay.