Haslam Requests Emergency Funding for Flooding

Initial counties to include Dyer, Lake, Shelby and Stewart

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today asked President Barack Obama to authorize emergency funding of $10 million to assist the state and local jurisdictions with evacuation preparedness and activities in West Tennessee due to flooding that began April 21, 2011, a result of the record rainfall on the Mississippi, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers.

Should this request be granted, local governments in Dyer, Lake, Shelby and Stewart counties would have access to direct federal assistance for evacuation actions. 

"Our priority right now is saving lives and protecting property in West Tennessee as we continuously monitor the flooding situation," Haslam said. "We want to secure the necessary federal assistance for local governments working to protect their citizens and infrastructure."

Dyer and Lake counties along the Mississippi River have declared local emergencies to deal with erosion and seepage along the counties' levee systems. Additionally, Dyer, Lake and Stewart counties have begun voluntary evacuations.

In Shelby County, six shelters are open in Memphis and local officials have evacuated hundreds of people from homes in low-lying areas.  The Tennessee Department of Transportation and Memphis Public Works are working to keep major roadways open.

On April 26, Haslam declared a state of emergency as a precautionary move because of the severe weather and forecast of Mississippi River flooding. Haslam was briefed April 29 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on recent storms and their effect on water levels along the Mississippi River system.

Tiptonville in Lake County has been under a voluntary evacuation notice since last week, and Millington in Shelby County issued an evacuation order earlier May 2.

The Department of Military, Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Civil Air Patrol, American Red Cross, Tennessee Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters, Nashville and Memphis Districts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and regional offices of the National Weather Service, are providing critical information and emergency protective services to supplement local efforts.

Damage assessments continue in East Tennessee following the storms and tornadoes that impacted that part of the state last week.  Additional counties are expected to be added to the initial declaration from May 2 as those assessments continue.

Additional information about state and federal assistance for affected counties will be released as details become available.

For more updates regarding the state’s response, visit the TEMA website at www.tnema.org.