FEMA has announced $9 million in federal funding for Tennessee communities affected by Tropical Storm Helene and other past disasters. The money is available as part of FEMA’s Public Assistance Program which is funded at a minimum of 75% federal share.
Through the program, communities in the state of Tennessee will receive valuable funding. Notable projects include:
- $3.7 million for emergency protective measures taken by Humphreys County School District following catastrophic flooding.
- $3 million for 10 public infrastructure projects including:
- $1.4 million for various road repairs in Carter, Haywood and Unicoi counties and the city of Dyersburg.
- $1.3 million for various electrical and utility repairs for Bolivar Energy Authority, Nashville Electric Service, Southwest Tennessee Electric Membership Cooperative, and Unicoi County Gas Utility District.
- $268,000 for building repairs to the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
- $1.2 million to remove debris from Cheatham and Tipton counties and the city of Grand Junction following Helene.
Hurricane Helene
On the evening of September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the area of Big Bend, Florida. The Category 4 storm, which reached maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, caused catastrophic flooding in Tennessee. Volunteers and donations poured in to support response and recovery in the state:
- 1,800 truckloads of water donated
- 35,000 volunteer hours
- 100+ calls fielded per day
- 60,000 square foot warehouse filled and emptied of donations eight times
- 48 contiguous states sent donations
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides grants to state, tribal, territorial and local governments and some non-profit organization. These grants allow entities to respond to and recover from major disasters and emergencies.
To be eligible for a grant, applicants must meet four basic components: applicant, facility, work and costs. Work must fall into specific categories, which will determine how soon work should be completed.
To learn more about the program, visit the FEMA website. https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public
Source: FEMA Announces Nearly $9 Million in Funding for Tennessee (FEMA)
Image: Scott Greer via Unsplash
