President Donald Trump on Wednesday approved federal disaster assistance for 56 counties in Tennessee affected by severe weather between Feb. 19 and March 30.
Senator Lamar Alexander said, “I commend President Trump for rapidly approving Governor Bill Lee’s request for a major disaster declaration to help the 56 counties that were harmed by flooding and severe weather earlier this year.
This federal assistance will help Tennessee communities quickly begin to recover from flooding and severe storms which Gov. Lee estimated cost our state $151 million.”
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said, “I thank President Trump and FEMA for their swift action in approving federal aid for the Tennesseans affected by the devastating flooding that occurred earlier this year. This additional assistance is a necessary step in the recovery process and rebuilding efforts must continue to ensure our communities receive the help they desperately need."
Last month, the Tennessee Congressional delegation sent a letter to President Trump urging his quick approval of the Major Disaster Declaration saying:
“On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we are writing to support Governor Bill Lee’s request to declare a major disaster pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief Act as a result of the flooding and severe storms that impacted our state ...We thank you for your Administration’s ongoing response, specifically the Federal Highway Administration making $10 million immediately available to help repair roads damaged by flood and landslides. However, the severe storms that swept across the State of Tennessee beginning on February 6th brought severe storms and flooding that cost the state over $151 million. Federal Emergency Management Agency and State joint Preliminary Damage Assessments in affected counties for both Public and Individual Assistance occurred between March 7, 2019 and March 21, 2019.”