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U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Hurricanes Helene and Milton Updates and Information

Thursday, October 24, 2024

USDOT Routing Assistance Hotline

The U. S. Department of Transportation has activated the Routing Assistance Hotline for Hurricanes Helene and Milton responders. The Hotline is for Federal, State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial response personnel, as well as their contractors, conducting relief missions. To reach the Hotline, please contact your regional FEMA Office and/or your state’s Emergency Operations Center.

  • FACT SHEET: (October 9, 2024) UPDATE: Hurricane Helene Recovery Continues as Biden-⁠Harris Administration Prepares for Hurricane Milton
  • FACT SHEET: (September 30, 2024) UPDATE: Biden-⁠Harris Administration’s Continued Response to Hurricane Helene

Presidential Disaster Declarations by State


  • Alabama: WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced today that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Alabama to supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene beginning Sept. 22 and continuing.  
  • Florida: WASHINGTON -- FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell announced that President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Florida to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 23, 2024 and continuing.
  • Georgia: WASHINGTON-FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Georgia to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 24, 2024 and continuing. 
  • North CarolinaWASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of North Carolina to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene from Sept. 25, 2024, and continuing. 
  • South Carolina: WASHINGTON-- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of South Carolina to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene from Sept. 25, 2024 and continuing. 
  • Tennessee: WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Tennessee to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene from Sept. 26, 2024 and continuing. 
  • Virginia: WASHINGTON -- FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the Commonwealth of Virginia to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene from Sept. 25, 2024, and continuing.

FMCSA Actions


  • Regional Emergency Declaration
    Description: October 24, 2024EXTENSION OF EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS Nos. 2024-008 and 2024-010 FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND TENNESSEE

    Effective: 10/24/2024 | Expires on: 11/26/2024; In accordance with 49 CFR § 390.25, this Declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), November 26, 2024, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of this Declaration and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify this Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Declaration, and extend, or terminate the Declaration if conditions warrant.

  • Southern Service Center Emergency Declaration
    Description: October 17, 2024SSC - Emergency Declaration - Hurricane Milton - No. 2024-010 - 10-17-2024 (Florida)
    Effective: 
    10/17/2024Expires on: 11/04/2024; In accordance with 49 CFR §§ 390.23 and 390.25, this Declaration is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until the end of the emergency (as defined in 49 CFR § 390.5T) or until 11:59 P.M. (ET), November 4, 2024, whichever is earlier. FMCSA intends to continually review the status of this Declaration and the relief granted herein. As necessary, FMCSA may take action to modify this Declaration, including modification of the transportations and commodities covered by the Declaration, and extend, or terminate the Declaration if conditions warrant.

  • Notice of Enforcement Discretion Determination 
    DescriptionOctober 4, 2024NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT DISCRETION DETERMINATION No. 2024-009
    Effective: 
    10/04/2024Expires on: TBD; This Notice will expire upon the expiration of Regional Declaration of Emergency and Extension of State Declarations 2024-008, including any future extensions.

Emergency Declarations Issued by States


  • Georgia:  GA EO 09.24.24.01 Tropical Storm Helene
  • Kentucky:  Kentucky Declaration of Emergency No. 113789 Tropical Storm Helene
  • North Carolina:  North Carolina Executive Order 315 for Tropical Storm Helene
  • South Carolina:  South Carolina Executive Order 2024-24 for Hurricane Helene
  • Tennessee:  Tennessee Executive Order No. 105 for Hurricane Helene
  • Virginia:  Virginia Executive Order 37 (2024) due to Hurricane Helene
  • West Virginia:  West Virginia Governor Proclamation for Hurricane Helene
     

Truck Driver Related Links and Resources

(Note: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as an endorsement.) 

  • Parking Assistance: Truck Parking Club Customer Care Team: 888-899-PARK (7275)
  • Travel Between Western North Carolina and Tennessee
    • Travel between western North Carolina and Tennessee is extremely limited, especially for trucks greater than 30 feet long.  
    • Travel in this area should be limited to essential-only travel as emergency response continues and road conditions may still be hazardous in areas affected by Hurricane Helene.
    • I-40 and I-26 are closed at the Tennessee/North Carlina line.  The estimated repair time for I-40 is currently unknown.  
    • Please note that many third-party app providers may NOT have the most current and detailed information on closures and restrictions during this time.  
    • Detour Information for Cars and Trucks  - This resource provides information regarding truck-only routes, including information on detours for trucks over 30 ft.
    • Ongoing response efforts remain the priority, and non-essential traffic hinders recovery efforts and work by emergency responders. Those drivers who must reach this region should expect excessive traffic delays in the affected areas due to emergency response activities.