People with storm-related needs are encouraged to contact Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continue to support the local and state-led response to the winter storm in Tennessee.
On January 28, President Trump amended Tennessee’s federal emergency disaster declaration, allowing FEMA to quickly reimburse the state for response efforts totaling $3.75 million. These funds were delivered with unprecedented speed, demonstrating the President’s commitment to reforming emergency management and cutting red tape.
“DHS and FEMA began coordinating with all potentially affected states, including Tennessee, days before the winter storm began,” said Karen S. Evans, FEMA acting administrator. “By opening lines of communication early, FEMA rapidly delivered vital resources that states needed to respond to the storm and restore critical services to their communities.”
Following a federal emergency disaster declaration Jan. 24, DHS deployed personnel to the state emergency operations center to enhance coordination with partners on the ground, including FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Mary Hernandez and other support personnel. In the days following the storm, FEMA helped coordinate other specialized teams to support the state:
- On Jan. 27, the U.S. Forest Service’s hotshot crews arrived in Tennessee to conduct “cut and toss” operations that remove debris from roadways, allowing emergency access for power restoration work and local first responders.
- On Jan. 28, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Power Restoration Team arrived in Tennessee to begin generator assessments and installation.
- On Jan. 31, FEMA deployed a 12-person Incident Management Assistance Team to further support Tennessee.
People with storm-related needs are encouraged to contact Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, their local emergency management office or volunteer agencies in their area for assistance.
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