11/29/2016

Fellow MTASers,

The extreme weather conditions and the resulting fires have impacted Tennessee in ways we may never know, but rest assured it has not been good. The reports coming out of Sevier County this morning are horrific and heartbreaking. Those of you in East Tennessee can attest to the significance of the fires better than most of us.

I don’t know when they may happen nor do I know what they may be, but I ask that we do anything we can to help our town and city customers should we get requests for it. I know firsthand how MTAS, CTAS, and CIS helped us in Middle Tennessee during the May 2010 flood…practical help received at the right time. As you’re able, I hope you’ll reach out to your respective customers with offers of help and words of encouragement. A friendly voice on the other end of a phone call or encouraging words in a text or e-mail will go a long way in the next several days.

Some of you may already be engaged with our customers relative to the fires in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. I ask that you let me know about any requests for assistance…about the fires or the critical drought situation in general.

Thanks for what you do for our town and city customers and each other.

Jim Thomas, Executive Director
(O) 615. 532.4950 (C) 615.972.9219

jim.thomas@tennessee.edu

www.mtas.tennessee.edu