President Joe Biden has approved federal disaster relief for the severe storms, including deadly tornadoes and flooding, that struck Tennessee in May.
The declaration on Tuesday means federal aid will be available for recovery efforts by local governments and qualified nonprofits that assisted. A dozen counties are covered: Cannon, Cheatham, Giles, Hamilton, Jackson, Macon, Maury, Montgomery, Polk, Smith, Sumner and Warren.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee formally requested the aid last week. He is also seeking what’s known as “individual assistance” for six of those counties that were hit the hardest. That level of aid would allow individual residents to get cash assistance. But the Federal Emergency Management Agency tells WPLN News that part of the request remains under review.
The storms on May 8 and 9 included 10 tornadoes, damaging hail and record-setting rainfall in some pockets. A tornado in Maury County killed three people. Flooding killed a boy in Rutherford County. And many farms took on crop damages.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM