New foundation to help Gatlinburg fire victims long-term

Leaders in Sevier County announced plans Thursday to create a new foundation that will help victims of the Gatlinburg wildfires in the coming months and years as organizations that handled the immediate response begin to wind down their efforts.

Ellen Wilhoit, executive director of Leadership Sevier, announced the launch of the Mountain Tough Recovery Team at the Smokies Stadium on Thursday afternoon during the Cubs World Series trophy tour.

The group will focus most of its efforts on homeowners who either did not have insurance or did not have enough insurance to cover the damages.

The Smokies and Cubs organizations each donated $10,000 to the effort and the trophy tour event turned into a fundraiser, with fans paying $10 for a photo with the trophy.

"We’re trying to continue all the efforts that have been done up to now," Wilhoit said before the announcement. "So far it's been a short-term and immediate relief effort and this is a way the community can get behind these victims long-term and help these people get back to where they were."

But, she said, the organization will also help others who have unmet needs, relying on a database of victim information from other organizations such as the state and federal emergency management agencies, the Red Cross and Dolly Parton's My People Fund.

The decision to form the Mountain Tough came at the recommendation of local and federal officials, who suggested local leaders find a non-government agency that can pick up the baton after the short-term relief organizations leave, Wilhoit said.

Mountain Tough is being modeled off a similar effort in Bastrop County, Texas, where a 2011 wildfire burned 34,000 acres, destroyed 1,660 homes, killed two people and injured 12 others.

The Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team has helped families build homes after the fire, and has also helped victims of subsequent floods and tornadoes.

Mountain Tough has not yet begun fundraising, but has applied for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the federal government, Wilhoit said. The East Tennessee Foundation will manage donations until the nonprofit is fully established.

The nonprofit will use the mountaintough.org website, which had already been established to provide updated recovery information.

Wilhoit, who recently retired as president of the LeConte Medical Center, will serve as the chair of the non-profit's board. Craig Ross, president of The Dollywood Company, has signed on as vice chairman. Jackie Leatherwood, general manager of Greystone Lodge on the River, will be secretary of the board and David Verble, president of Citizens National Bank, will serve as treasurer.

The group will begin meeting immediately to discuss policies and expand the board.

The organization will have case workers to help guide families through the process and help with any unmet needs, but it's not yet clear if these will be volunteers or staff, she said.