President Joe Biden granted a Major Disaster Declaration on Friday to help seven Tennessee counties recovering from the severe winter storm that hit the region in early February, at the request of Governor Bill Lee.
At the request of Tennessee @GovBillLee, President Joe Biden today granted a Major Disaster Declaration to help seven counties recovering from the severe winter storm on Feb. 3, and Feb. 4, 2022.
More details: https://t.co/2UMcRyvZU5 pic.twitter.com/gYCyh6p99B
— Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) (@TennesseeEMA) March 12, 2022
“Today, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm from February 3 to February 4, 2022,” the White House announced Friday. “Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Crockett, Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton, and Weakley. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program will reimburse eligible applicants for winter storm costs associated with debris removal, restoring utilities, and emergency response, a statement by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) noted. The Major Disaster Declaration will also make the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program available to all counties in Tennessee to provide reimbursement assistance for eligible projects that prevent or reduce the risk to life and property from natural hazards.
As previously reported by The Tennessee Star, the state experienced dual weather hazards in early February as heavy rainfall in West and Middle Tennessee turned to freezing rain and ice accumulations. The ice storm claimed one life in Haywood County, disrupted travel, downed trees and power lines, and cut off power for tens of thousands of Tennesseans.
Governor Lee requested a joint federal, state, and local review of the ice storm damage on February 9th, 2022, with his official request for a Major Disaster Declaration following on March 3rd, 2022.
“Emergencies bring tremendous financial burdens to local governments and organizations who work to save and protect lives, and address rebuilding needs in the aftermath,” Governor Lee said in a statement. “This federal assistance will bring much-needed relief to these impacted communities.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
