All 11 members of the Tennessee congressional delegation sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Tuesday requesting the “swift approval” of Governor Bill Lee’s request for an updated major disaster declaration in the wake of flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Lee initially requested federal assistance for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties following the flash flooding that devastated buildings and roads in East Tennessee on September 26 and September 27, which the president approved on Saturday.
Today, I requested that FEMA expedite TN's approved Major Disaster Declaration to provide immediate relief & recovery to families & businesses across impacted communities.
This follows our prompt request for FEMA resources directly following severe storms & floods in East TN. pic.twitter.com/9XtDQiI7Jp
— Gov. Bill Lee (@GovBillLee) October 1, 2024
After surveying the areas devastated by the hurricane over the weekend, Lee submitted an updated major disaster declaration to the president, seeking expedited relief for Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
Lee also requested Public Assistance for Grainger County in the updated request.
If granted, Lee’s request will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to provide financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households in East Tennessee affected by Hurricane Helene who have “uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs.”
In a letter on Tuesday, members of the Tennessee congressional delegation urged Biden to approve of Lee’s updated request, saying, “The remnants of Hurricane Helene have caused widespread damage across Tennessee, especially in East Tennessee.”
“On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we urge you to approve this request as soon as possible,” the lawmakers said.
Led by U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tuesday’s letter was also signed by U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and U.S. Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), John Rose (R-TN-06), Mark Green (R-TN-07), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), and Steve Cohen (D-TN-09).
Tuesday’s letter comes as the Tennessee Department of Health confirmed six weather-related fatalities – one in Knox County, one in Johnson County, three in Unicoi County, and one in Washington County – as a result of Hurricane Helene.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “Joe Biden” by Joe Biden. Background Photo “Hurricane Helene Damage” by Bill Lee.
