Bristol, Tenn. — Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) has been transformed into a lifeline for flood-affected regions in Northeast Tennessee following unprecedented damage caused by Hurricane Helene. In response to an overwhelming outpouring of donations, Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby announced that all local disaster relief effort contributions should now be directed to the Speedway, designated the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center.
In coordination with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), the facility serves as a centralized hub for donation collection and distribution, helping coordinate recovery efforts for multiple counties devastated by flash flooding. The Speedway has opened its South Building to receive and manage essential supplies distributed to impacted areas, including Carter, Unicoi, Washington, and Johnson counties. These counties continue to face severe challenges, including power outages, washed-out roads, and the loss of several lives.
“Due to the immense generosity of our community, we’ve had to redirect all donations to the Bristol Motor Speedway,” said Mayor Woodby. “The volume of aid was overwhelming at smaller local centers, and now BMS can efficiently manage and distribute the supplies where they are most needed.”