Local Resources Meeting Needs in Flooding Emergency

Hardin and Hamilton County Assessments Find Few Unmet Needs 

NASHVILLE – TEMA has completed a thorough examination of the damages and impact from the flooding emergencies of late September in Hardin and Hamilton Counties. In consultation with local emergency managers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the state has determined the remaining unmet needs do not reach the federal government’s threshold for a federal disaster declaration for Individual Assistance.

At this time, both counties have reported that affected individual households have received tremendous response from non-government and faith-based volunteer organizations as part of local recovery efforts.

“Networking and rapid response by supportive civic and community groups greatly aided individuals in Hardin and Hamilton Counties by providing goods and services to speed their recovery,” said Charles Bryant, assistant director of response for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

The state and preliminary damage assessment teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency also compared uninsured flood damages and emergency response costs against the standards to request federal disaster Public Assistance for government and other public entities. While still significant, the flooding costs were insufficient to qualify for FEMA’s disaster reimbursement program under the federal Stafford Act.

To receive a declaration for federal assistance under the Stafford Act, the state must show that the financial impact of damages to government infrastructure and the cost of response efforts statewide is more than $7.4 million, which is the threshold established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA Administrator can recommend a federal disaster without qualifying damage assessments only if there has been significant loss of life.

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency continues to assist county emergency management where possible to match individual needs with non-governmental programs, such as those offered by members of the Tennessee Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters.