Spring Severe Weather 2025
State Assistance
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: If your primary residence is damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster occurring in Tennessee, you may be entitled to a refund of Tennessee sales and use tax paid on major appliances, residential furniture, or residential building supplies purchased after the disaster through the Tennessee Department of Revenue's (DOR) Natural Disaster Sales Tax Relief Program. Learn more about the program, including eligibility requirements and required documentation, on DOR's website.
Federal Assistance
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
On Thursday, June 19, President Trump approved Governor Bill Lee's request for a Major Disaster Declaration.
FEMA Individual Assistance
The following nine counties have been approved for FEMA Individual Assistance: Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, and Wilson.
Survivors can apply for Individual Assistance in person at Disaster Recovery Centers, online or through the FEMA app anytime or by phone at 1-800-621-3362 between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. CT. Multilingual operators are available.
The deadline for survivors to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance is August 19, 2025.
FEMA Public Assistance
The following 19 counties have been approved for FEMA Public Assistance, which is for local governments, private non-profits, and houses of worship: Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Hickan, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Stewart, and Tipton. The deadline to submit a FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA) has been extended to August 10, 2025. The original deadline was July 10, 2025.
On July 14, FEMA announced local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in Carroll, Houston and Wayne counties
were approved for FEMA Public Assistance grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent work to repair public facilities that were damaged by the early April severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The deadline to submit for a FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA) for these additional counties is August 10, 2025.
On July 31, FEMA announced Crockett, Henderson, Humphreys, Lewis, Montgomery and Shelby counties were added to the declaration for Public Assistance. Local governments and certain nonprofit organizations in the additional counties are now
eligible for PA grants for debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent work to repair public facilities that were damaged by April's severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. The deadline to submit for a FEMA Request for Public Assistance (RPA) for these additional counties is August 27, 2025.
For more information about the process, visit TEMA's Public Assistance webpage. If your organization needs assistance submitting an RPA, please email TEMA.PA@tn.gov.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Cheatham, Davidson, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Grundy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henry, Hickman, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Perry, Steward, and Tipton.
Under this declaration, Private Non-Profits (PNP) providing non-critical services of a governmental nature are eligible to apply for both business physical disaster loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from SBA. Examples of eligible non-critical PNP organizations include, but are not limited to, food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools, and colleges. PNPs may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the PNP did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1to access telecommunications relay services. Business Recovery Centers have been established in Davidson and McNairy counties:
Davidson County
SBA District Office
2 International Plaza Dr., Suite 500 Nashville, TN 37217.
Operating Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
McNairy County
Latta Theatre (FEMA Disaster Recovery Center)
205 W Court AvenueSelmer, TN 38375
Operating Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. - 6p.m.
The deadline to apply Tuesday, August 19, 2025.
Disaster Recovery Centers
Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) offer in-person support for applying for FEMA assistance, understanding application status, resolving issues, and accessing other resources. They also provide access to specialists from FEMA, SBA, and other organizations.
Safehaven Storm Shelter
530 Madison Ave W, Grand Junction, TN
Hours of Operation
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday
Obion County Library
1221 E Reelfoot Ave, Union City, TN
Hours of Operation
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday
Closed Sunday
FEMA may reach out to you a few different ways to confirm your eligibility for a type of assistance. If you applied for assistance due to damages or losses from weather impacts during April 2-6, 2025, make sure you:
- Read any messages carefully that FEMA has sent you. These pieces of information will explain any decisions FEMA has made and will tell you what steps you need to take.
- If you created an account at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, you may also receive messages there. Be sure to keep checking your account on the site for updated information.
Home Inspections
FEMA must verify your disaster-caused damage through an onsite or remote inspection as part of the process.
Scheduling an Inspection
- A FEMA Inspector will call or text you to schedule an appointment to meet at your home or property. They will already have your FEMA application number.
- Inspectors will leave messages or texts at the phone number listed on the FEMA application. These communications may come from unknown phone numbers, so it is important that applicants respond so their application can be processed.
When the FEMA inspector calls, write down:
- The inspector’s name
- Date of call
- Date and time of appointment
- Inspector’s telephone number
Call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362) to verify the inspector if you have questions about who they are or the documentation they are asking for.
What to Have with You for Your Inspection
You should have the following information ready at the time of the inspection:
- Your photo identification
- Proof of ownership or occupancy, if requested by the inspector
- List of household occupants living in the home at the time of disaster
- All disaster-caused damage to property
- Your insurance policy and any additional documents requested by the inspector
During Your Inspection
Depending on the amount of damage, the inspection may take up to 45 minutes to complete.
About Your Inspector
- All FEMA inspectors carry an official photo ID. Someone who only has a shirt or jacket that says FEMA does not have an official ID.
- If the inspector who comes to your house doesn't have an official ID, or refuses to show it to you, tell them to leave immediately and call local law enforcement.
Call the FEMA Helpline (1-800-621-3362) if you have any questions about the identity of your inspector.
The inspector will:
- Attempt to verify the applicant’s name, address, contact information, occupancy and ownership status, and insurance coverage.
- Walk through the entire home to assess the condition of both damaged and non-damaged areas, noting disaster caused damage to real property (structural) and doing a complete inventory of all damaged and non-damaged essential personal property (appliances, furniture, etc.).
- Ask questions about disaster-caused losses and expenses including medical expenses, moving and storage expenses, items purchased in response to the disaster, uniforms, supplies, and tools required for school or employment.
- Take photos of the interior and exterior of the home during the inspection process.
The inspector won’t:
- Ask for money or your bank information.
- Charge for a fee for an inspection.
- Ask for your FEMA identification number, they already have this in their records.
After Your Inspection
Information collected during the inspection is only one of several criteria used by FEMA to determine a survivor’s eligibility for assistance. You will receive information explaining FEMA's eligibility decision within 10 days after the inspector's visit.
You can check the status of your application or read any FEMA letters by accessing your DisasterAssistance.gov account.
For more information on the home inspection and eligibility, click here.
We encourage anyone looking to donate, to work with reputable non-profit organizations. Below is information on three different funds that are working directly with the impacted counties and survivors.
- The United Way of West Tennessee
- The Community Foundation of West Tennessee
- The United Way of Greater Nashville
There are many volunteer opportunities in the impacted areas. See below:
- To volunteer in Nashville/Davidson County, go to www.nashvilleresponds.com
- To volunteer in Clarksville/Montgomery County, go to www.cmcresponds.org/get-involved
- To volunteer in Wilson County, go to www.volunteernetworktn.org
- To volunteer with an affiliated volunteer organization, check out www.tnvoad.org/current-members/ for a list of organizations
Flash Reports + News Releases
For a full list of Flash Reports + News Releases that are in regard to this disaster, visit TEMA's News Releases page.
For a full list of past media briefings, visit TEMA's YouTube Channel.
TEMA will update this website regularly, as needed. If you are a member of the media and have a question or interview request, please email TEMA.Info@tn.gov.