Bredesen Announces Seven West Counties Approved for Federal Disaster Assistance
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 | 09:27am
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the federal government has approved his request for disaster assistance for seven counties in West Tennessee for damage from a winter storm that struck on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Bredesen requested the federal disaster aid for Dyer, Henry, Lake, Obion, Montgomery, Stewart and Weakley counties on Feb. 6.
Local governments and public utilities in the seven approved counties are now eligible for Public Assistance Program funds from the federal government. The public assistance designation also covers emergency response and recovery costs incurred by state government.
“I greatly appreciate President Obama’s approval of the request for these counties to receive assistance for their response and recovery expenditures,” said Bredesen. “The costs of recovery for impacts to infrastructure such as those experienced in West Tennessee are significant, and this assistance will lessen the burden on local communities for those efforts.”
As in previous disasters, the state will provide half of the local share of matching funds required by the federal reimbursement program. The total amount will be 12.5 percent of the total cost incurred by local governments. Utility companies are required to provide the full 25 percent match for federal funds
The Public Assistance Program authorizes a number of benefits for local government and public utilities to reclaim expenses relating to debris removal, overtime and property damages for public buildings.
The winter storm in Tennessee produced considerable damage to public infrastructure, primarily electrical utilities, in the affected counties. Local and state resources also expended considerable resources responding to the emergency, restoring public infrastructure and removing debris.
Despite the damage to public infrastructure, the damage to individual households was insufficient to trigger federal Individual Assistance Programs, which provide help to households and private businesses.
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.
Additional information about state and federal assistance for affected counties will be released by TEMA as further details become available.
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