FEMA Expands Public Assistance Eligibility for Additional Counties Following Winter Storm Fern

Today, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has expanded Public Assistance (PA) eligibility to additional Tennessee counties for impacts from Winter Storm Fern.

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grant funding to eligible applicants—including local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations—to support emergency response, debris removal, and the repair or restoration of damaged public infrastructure.

Updated and Expanded County Public Assistance Eligibility 

There are now 21 counties that are eligible for Public Assistance Categories A-G. These counties include Benton, Decatur, Dickson, Fayette, Giles, Hamilton, Hardeman, Henry, Humphreys, Jackson, Madison, Montgomery, Morgan, Overton, Rhea, Roane, Sequatchie, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, and Union. 

This is in addition to Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Davidson, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Maury, McNairy, Perry, Robertson, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson, and Wilson counties that were previously named eligible for Public Assistance Categories A-G.

Additionally, there are now 55 counties that are eligible for Emergency Protective Measures (Category B), including Direct Federal Assistance: Anderson, Bedford, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, DeKalb, Dyer, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Haywood, Houston, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Lincoln, Loudon, Marion, Marshall, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Moore, Obion, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rutherford, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Tipton, Unicoi, Van Buren, Warren, Washington, Weakley, and White.

Request for Public Assistance (RPA) Deadline

Eligible applicants are encouraged to submit their Request for Public Assistance (RPA) as soon as possible, even if impacts are still being assessed. If your county has been newly declared, the RPA deadline is April 7, 2026. The deadline for the previously declared counties to submit an RPA is March 25, 2026.

RPAs must be submitted through FEMA’s Grants Portal. TEMA can submit an RPA on behalf of an applicant if needed; applicants may email TEMA.PA@tn.gov for assistance.

 

About FEMA Public Assistance

FEMA Public Assistance supports two broad categories of work: Emergency Work, such as debris removal and emergency protective measures, and Permanent Work, repairs to roads, bridges, utilities, and other public infrastructure.

For additional Public Assistance information and resources, visit TEMA’s Public Assistance webpage.