Haslam Requests FEMA Damage Assessment for 11 Counties

Joint Preliminary Damage Surveys Start Week of April 25

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide a joint preliminary damage assessment for 11 counties impacted by severe storms in the state on April 4, 2011.

The counties include: Chester, Clay, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Henderson, Humphreys, Lake, Sevier, Shelby and Sumner.

“We want to make sure these local governments and utilities receive the assistance they need,” said Haslam. “We're confident the process will be handled as swiftly and efficiently as possible.”

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and FEMA will begin joint preliminary damage assessments with local governments in the impacted counties the week of April 25.

The joint assessment will determine whether state and local governments and utilities in the affected counties can qualify for the federal Public Assistance program, which provides reimbursements for repairing and rebuilding public infrastructure, removing debris and measures taken to protect lives and properties.

FEMA is responsible for reviewing the public assistance project applications from local governments, assessing the funding and making the payments to public assistance applicants.

For more information on FEMA’s public assistance program, go to http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/pa/index.shtm.

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