ATLANTA - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations that June 20 is the filing deadline for federal economic injury disaster loans in North Carolina for economic losses due to excessive rain, flooding and Tropical Storm Fred on Aug. 15-17, 2021.

WASHINGTON – Businesses and residents in Tennessee affected by the wind, severe weather and tornadoes on March 30-31, 2022, may apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today.

This afternoon, Division of Forestry representatives at the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville reported fire crews have made containment progress on the two wildfires currently burning in Sevier County. The Wears Valley wildfire, currently more than 3,700 acres, is 85 percent contained, and the Seymour wildfire, estimated at 800 acres, is 20 percent contained. Drier weather conditions are expected this weekend for East Tennessee. This will mean the potential remains for new fires to ignite and will make fighting existing fires treacherous.

Local, state, and federal fire crews continue efforts to contain and extinguish the 3,700-acre Wears Valley wildfire in Sevier County. Some rain and colder temps are helping crews maintain the fire’s 30 percent containment. However, gusty winds in the area, drier conditions this weekend, and no rain in the forecast until Tuesday mean the existing wildfires continue to pose a threat to lives and property, and the potential exists for new wildfires to start. Additionally, fire crews are addressing an 800-acre wildfire near the Seymour community of Sevier County. This wildfire is about 5 miles northwest of the Wears Valley wildfire and is not currently contained.

Damage assessments began today in Carroll and Madison counties in West Tennessee in the aftermath of the severe weather that cross Tennessee on Wednesday, Carroll County reports about 35 structures damaged, with some power outages remaining. Madison County has eight teams, with TEMA personnel supporting, conducting damage assessments and reviewing locations for debris removal. In East Tennessee, fire crews continue to work on the Wears Valley fire that began yesterday and has impacted more than 3,400 acres. The Tennessee Division of Forestry reports the fire is not increasing in size, as fast as on Wednesday, and is currently 30 percent contained.

A severe storm front that impacted the entire state Wednesday has moved out of Tennessee and left behind cooler temps, mostly cloudy to partly cloudy skies, and calmer winds in the middle and west regions. A very high risk of fire remains in East Tennessee where high winds and dry conditions in Sevier County quickly caused the expansion of a wildfire in the county’s Wears Valley. The wildfire itself led Sevier County officials to issue a series of mandatory evacuation orders Wednesday afternoon that eventually covered an area of 11,000 residential addresses.

The potential for widespread severe weather impacts diminished this evening as the storm system moved through Middle Tennessee and crossed the Cumberland Plateau into East Tennessee. A State of Emergency remains in place in Tennessee with the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville staffing overnight with Emergency Service Coordinators from many State agencies and departments, and non-governmental organizations, supporting local efforts for both the severe storm and wildfires.

Tennessee is currently experiencing a statewide severe weather threat that is: 1) causing tornado watches and warnings to be issued in the western part of the state; 2) making possible another round of severe weather impacts in the middle region; and, 3) contributing to the creation and spread of wildfires in the east.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse eligible applicants for eligible costs to repair or replace facilities damaged by the Severe Winter Storm occurring February 3, 2022 through February 4, 2022. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) and Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) programs implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121- 5207.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – At the request of Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, President Joe Biden today granted a Major Disaster Declaration to help seven counties recovering from the severe winter storm on Feb. 3, and Feb. 4, 2022.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is asking for a Major Disaster Declaration today from President Joe Biden to assist seven counties in their recovery from the severe winter storm that impacted the west and middle regions of the state on Feb. 3, and Feb. 4, 2022.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee's Severe Weather Awareness Week is Feb. 20-26, 2022, and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and National Weather Service (NWS) are asking Tennesseans to make severe weather planning and preparedness a priority.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse eligible applicants for eligible costs to repair or replace facilities damaged by the Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes occurring December 10, 2021 through December 11, 2021. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA), Individual Assistance (IA), and Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) programs implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121- 5207.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee today asked FEMA to work with TEMA on a joint Preliminary Damage Assessment to determine the state’s eligibility for federal assistance to support power restoration and recovery efforts in counties impacted in the floods and severe ice storm on Feb. 3, and Feb. 4, 2022.

The winter weather system is moving out of Tennessee today after bringing heavy rainfall followed by freezing rain, leading to ice accumulations, in West and Middle Tennessee.