Federal Disaster Assistance Approved for 13 Tennessee Counties
Franklin, Fentress, Grainger, Hamilton, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Moore,
Morgan, Pickett, Scott and Union to Receive Public Assistance for Recovery
NASHVILLE – Governor Bill Haslam today announced the federal government has authorized a major disaster declaration for 13 middle and east Tennessee counties, impacted as a result of the storms and flooding that began in the state on Feb. 28, 2011.
Counties in the declaration include: Franklin, Fentress, Grainger, Hamilton, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Moore, Morgan, Pickett, Scott, and Union.
“We appreciate the federal government’s quick response,” Haslam said. “State agencies and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency will work with federal partners to make sure the county governments affected by the storms and flooding get the assistance they need.”
The authorization for public assistance will provide reimbursements to local governments in the declared counties to reclaim expenses for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities
The federal program, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), will provide a 75 percent reimbursement rate for costs associated with approved projects in the declared counties. State and local governments will split the remaining 25 percent of costs evenly.
Utilities are also eligible for the 75 percent reimbursement, but must pay the remaining 25 percent themselves.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is responsible for reviewing the public assistance project applications from local governments, assessing the funding and making the payments to public assistance applicants. For more information on FEMA’s public assistance program, go to http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.
Additional information about state and federal assistance for the affected counties will be released if details become available. Visit the TEMA website at www.tnema.org for information.