Tennessee authorities have taken action against eight migrant workers who were arrested for looting a flood-ravaged area in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The arrests were made by Washington County Sheriff Keith Sexton, who announced the incident on Facebook.
Five of the suspects have been charged with aggravated burglary into occupied structures, while the remaining three face burglary charges. All eight individuals are currently in custody at the Washington County Detention Center, each held on a $20,000 bond. They are expected to appear in court soon.
It was confirmed that all eight suspects are migrant workers in the United States legally on work visas. The sheriff's office emphasized that they will continue to patrol the region, especially along the flood zone, to prevent further criminal activities.
The looting incidents occurred in both residential and unoccupied homes, with some structures barely standing due to the impact of the hurricane. Communication challenges were also highlighted, with radios being delivered via helicopter to aid in the response efforts.
Hurricane Helene caused heavy rains and flooding in eastern Tennessee, leading to significant damage. Governor Bill Lee has already assessed the flooding damage in the region, as the storm's impact spread across multiple states in the Southeast.
The storm's toll has been devastating, with at least 133 deaths reported in six states. Emergency workers are working tirelessly to reach isolated areas and provide assistance to those affected by the hurricane. White House homeland security adviser Liz Sherwood-Randall mentioned that there are still individuals unaccounted for, raising concerns about the extent of the storm's impact.
