President Donald Trump announced Thursday he approved Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following severe weather in the Volunteer State in April.
Trump wrote in a Trust Social post, “Just approved storm damage money for the Great State of Tennessee…My honor to do so!”
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Lee thanked the president for approving his request for federal assistance.
“State and local officials continue to provide critical support to Middle and West Tennesseans who face a long road to recovery. As the rebuilding process continues, I thank President Trump and our federal partners for granting resources to further our severe weather response and recovery,” Lee said.
Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who led the entire Tennessee congressional delegation in sending a letter to Trump in April asking that he approve of Lee’s request, also thanked the president for his approval.
“This is great news for Tennessee and those impacted by devastating storms. Always grateful for [President Trump’s] leadership,” Blackburn said.
On April 2 through April 6, a severe storm system, which resulted in a total of 19 tornadoes, swept across the Volunteer State and left 10 dead across five counties – McNairy, Fayette, Carroll, Obion, and Tipton.
The storm system produced up to 15 inches of rain in some locations, resulting in severe flooding and flash flooding, as well as straight-line winds with gusts of up to 90 mph, causing significant property damage in several counties.
As a result of Trump’s approval of Lee’s Major Disaster Declaration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance is now available for nine counties, and public assistance is available for 19 counties impacted by the severe weather and tornadoes in April.
The Tennessee counties named in the Major Disaster Declaration to receive FEMA Individual Assistance include Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, and Wilson.
The counties approved to receive FEMA Public Assistance include Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Hickman, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Stewart, and Tipton.
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Director Patrick C. Sheehan said the president’s approval of Lee’s Major Disaster Declaration is a “crucial step in getting our communities the help they need.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “April Flood” by Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
