Sevier County Officials Declare State of Local Emergency due to COVID-19

The mayors of Sevier County and Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Pittman Center, and Sevierville on Thursday declared a State of Local Emergency for Sevier County, Tennessee.

This declaration is executed by political subdivisions of government, both City and County, to comply with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s request to open the Sevier County Emergency Operations Center, to allow cities and the county financial flexibility and the opportunity to qualify for grants and/or loans and to possibly recoup expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These are difficult times. Our normal lives have been disrupted. However, it is vitally important that everyone continues to follow the guidelines from the CDC and the Tennessee Department of Health,” said the mayors. “We want to limit the spread of COVID-19 and this declaration helps us to do that.”

According to the Tennessee Department of Health, there are three confirmed cases of Sevier County residents with COVID-19. The department lists cases by county of residence, not where the test was confirmed. Tourists from out of state are recorded as “out of state” in the agency’s report and not included in county totals.