NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A public notice has been published that addresses FEMA’s intention to reimburse eligible government agencies and nonprofit organizations in 10 Tennessee counties on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work during the March 31 to April 1, 2023, storms and tornadoes.
The public notice is posted on FEMA’s Tennessee disaster website as FEMA Public Notice and on the state website at TN Public Notice. The notice describes proposed activities that may affect historic properties and activities and critical actions that may affect wetlands and floodplains.
The president approved a major disaster declaration April 7 for the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes that struck Tennessee.
Ten counties were designated for assistance under the FEMA Public Assistance program: Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton and Wayne. The major disaster declaration also authorized FEMA to provide Individual Assistance in the form of financial assistance and direct services funding to eligible individuals and households in the same 10 counties.
FEMA is required by law to share the public notice of its intent to provide federal assistance and grant opportunities through its Public Assistance program and its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Under Public Assistance, FEMA’s largest grant program, FEMA provides funds to assist communities as they respond to and recover from presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies. The program provides funding for emergency assistance to save lives and protect property, and if permanent work is authorized also helps fund permanently restoring community infrastructure affected by a federally declared incident. The program also encourages protection of these damaged facilities from future events by providing assistance for hazard mitigation measures.
Under Public Assistance categories A and B, which have been authorized for this disaster, eligible applicants in the 10 counties designated in Tennessee can seek reimbursement for emergency debris removal and emergency work to protect lives and secure property. Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories, local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, or funding for use in mitigating future hazards, is available statewide.
To obtain information about FEMA’s actions or a specific project, write to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency – Region IV - EHP, 3005 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4112 or send an email to FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Include in the subject line of the email: “DR 4701-TN.”
For the latest information on Tennessee’s recovery from the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4701. You may also follow TN.gov/TEMA; Twitter.com/TEMA, Facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo, @FEMARegion4/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.