Bredesen Announces Disaster Declaration for Putnam County

NASHVILLE – Governor Bredesen today announced the federal government has authorized a major disaster declaration for Putnam County in Tennessee as a result of extreme weather and flooding that struck the state April 30-May 2.

 

“This assistance will be tremendously helpful to the people of Putnam County who suffered losses as they work to rebuild,” said Bredesen. “I encourage residents and business owners who sustained losses to begin applying for assistance immediately.”

 

Putnam County residents can apply for assistance by registering online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

 

President Obama’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Putnam County, including both individual and public assistance. Individual assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Public assistance is also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures only at this time. In addition, federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

 

Forty-nine counties have now been declared eligible for part of FEMA’s Public Assistance, including:

Benton, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Giles, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson.

 

In addition, 46 counties have been approved for Individual Assistance: Benton, Carroll, Cannon, Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Giles, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, Perry, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson.

 

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.

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