POGA, Tenn. (WJHL) — Many gathered at an open house Tuesday in the Poga community of Carter County to hear where things stand in the debris removal process following Hurricane Helene.

It was one of many open houses the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is hosting about removing debris out of waterways.

Many state and county officials were at the meeting to help answer questions. Debris removal is underway across East Tennessee rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.

“We have removed 747,000 cubic yards of debris out of all of the waterways that we’re currently working in across East Tennessee,” TEMA Communications Director Kristin Coulter said. “To kind of give an idea that’s 747,000 washers and dryers.”

TEMA has contracted with Phillips & Jordan (P&J) Company for debris removal.

Representatives talked with community members and answered questions about the process.

“We wanted to get some type of time frame on the clean-up process and what the process was going to be,” Kent Underwood, president of the Elk River Property Owners Association said. “So we have a realistic expectation other than just hearing a lot of things, different things from different sources and people.”

Underwood and his wife Gail also came to the meeting to provide information to their neighbors.

“It was minimal for us, for certain of us. I mean, there’s docks washed away, but so many people in this community had their entire homes washed away,” an emotional Underwood said. “And that’s the real tragedy here. I mean docks could be rebuilt. The lives and the time that it will take to rebuild all of those is going to be exhausted.”

The Underwoods live at the mouth of the Elk River and saw firsthand the devastation Helene caused.

“We love our river,” Gail Underwood said. “And so and all of the effort that’s being done for this cleanup it’s so important to our community and our neighbors here in Elk Mills and in Poga who’ve lost so much. And just being able to get this debris out of their way so that they can rebuild and try to go back to normal.”

TEMA’s Coulter said some residents have had questions about right of entries and fishing. Representatives of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation along with county Mayor Patty Woodby and other officials helped answer those questions.

“P & J has crews all over doing this work,” Coulter said. “And so we just want to make sure that people are mindful of that work. If you see work being done, you know, make sure you give proper distance and give them the space that they need to continue to do the work that they need to do.”

Coulter wants to reiterate that Philips & Jordan will not come onto anyone’s property without a signed right of entry.

“Every property owner has the right to not sign that document. However, that will slow operations down. So we just encourage everybody to hear Phillips & Jordan. If someone comes and knocks on your door to have that conversation to talk with them, to better understand what kind of work is going to be happening on their property.”

Coulter said timelines for different waterways differ on the size and amount of debris. However, she said P&J are working as fast as they can to remove debris safely.

Information about debris removal out of waterways is also on TEMA’s website.

Coulter said questions through email can be addressed to tnwaterways@pandj.com. That is Philips & Jordan’s dedicated email address to answer questions, comments, or concerns about waterway debris efforts due to Helene.

More open houses are set to take place:

-Unicoi County at the Unicoi County Courthouse on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m.

-Hampton at Hampton Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

-Johnson County at Johnson County Courthouse on Monday, March 3 at 5:30 p.m.

-Greene County at the Greeneville Emergency & Rescue Squad on Thursday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.