Gov. Lee requests federal assistance following April’s severe weather, flooding
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE TENNESSEE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY:
JACKSON, Tenn. — On Thursday, April 18, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee formally requested a Major Disaster Declaration to make federal assistance available to the West and Middle Tennessee counties impacted by severe weather and flooding on April 2-6. The request follows completed damage assessments across impacted counties.
The Major Disaster Declaration request comes in addition to the Emergency Declaration that was requested by Gov. Lee on April 2 and approved by President Donald J. Trump on April 3.
“The severe storms and tornadoes that struck Tennessee have caused significant damage and hardship for many communities across our state,” said TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan. “We appreciate Governor Lee’s swift action in requesting a Major Disaster Declaration, which is an essential step in securing the federal assistance needed to help Tennesseans recover and rebuild. TEMA remains committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to support affected residents every step of the way.”
Gov. Lee has requested federal assistance in the form of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual Assistance (IA) and Public Assistance (PA) programs.
FEMA Individual Assistance Request
If approved, the Major Disaster Declaration would make federal assistance in the form of FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) available to Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Grundy, Hardeman, Hickman, Humphreys, Lewis, McNairy, Montogomery, Obion, Perry, Sumner, and Wilson counties.
FEMA’s IA Program may help with rental assistance, home repair and personal property replacement, in addition to other uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. The maximum aid available under this program is $43,600, and while it is intended to stabilize survivors, it does not cover all the losses they may have suffered.
FEMA Public Assistance Request
Gov. Lee requested FEMA Public Assistance (PA) (Categories A-G) for Carroll, Cheatham, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Shelby, Tipton, and Wilson Counties.
FEMA’s PA program reimburses local and state governments, utilities, and certain private, non-profit organizations for emergency protective measures and debris removal, and for repairs to roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings, and equipment as the result of a federally declared disaster.
Based on the FEMA Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments, the requested counties have demonstrated they meet or have surpassed federally established loss thresholds to qualify for relief through FEMA’s PA program.
If there are other counties that complete damage assessments and it is determined they have met the requirements, they may be requested to be added to the Major Disaster Declaration by Governor Lee at a later date.
Additional Information
The request for Public Assistance and Individual Assistance comes in addition to the Emergency Declaration that was requested by Gov. Lee and approved by President Trump on April 3. The Emergency Declaration provided emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct federal assistance, under the FEMA Public Assistance program at 75 percent federal funding for all 95 counties.
This request comes after an impactful storm system entered the area on April 2 and stalled until moving out of the state on April 6. During that time, an unprecedented period of severe weather and prolific rainfall occurred in several waves of thunderstorms across West and Middle Tennessee. The National Weather Service has preliminarily surveyed 19 tornadoes that impacted these areas over the duration of the weather event.
The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville was activated and has remained at a Level 3 – State of Emergency since April 2 because of the severe weather and flooding and the ongoing recovery from Tropical Storm Helene.
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