Gov. Phil Bredesen has asked President Bush to declare 21 Tennessee counties federal disaster areas following storms that ravaged the state Tuesday. Should this initial request for assistance be granted, residents in these Tennessee counties would have access to varying levels of federal assistance.
“I’m pleased that state and local agencies responded so quickly to obtain damage assessments to support this request,” said Bredesen. “Today I made an initial disaster declaration request to President Bush for 21 counties in Tennessee where, combined, an estimated 32 people lost their lives and more than 180 were injured.
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with everyone who has been affected, particularly those who lost loved ones and suffered injuries,” said Gov. Bredesen. “We learned in the aftermath of the storms of 2006 and the tornado that struck downtown Nashville when I was mayor that Tennesseans are strong and resilient, and they truly know what it means to help a neighbor in need. As we call on the spirit of community that has always pulled Tennessee through these tragedies, we will focus our efforts on helping the people impacted rebuild and re-establish a sense of normalcy in their lives.”
Gov. Bredesen made an aerial tour of Macon, Sumner and Trousdale counties on Wednesday with a stop in Lafayette, Tn. Macon County was one of the hardest hit in Tuesday’s tornadoes, with more than 40 injuries and 14 of the state’s 32 reported storm-related fatalities. Today, Gov. Bredesen toured Madison, Shelby and Sumner counties.
Additional information about state and federal assistance for affected counties will be released as details become available.
The 21 counties included in the disaster declaration request are Benton, Fayette, Fentress, Gibson, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Macon, Madison, McNairy, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Wayne and Williamson.