NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that Benton, Carroll, and Smith counties will receive federal assistance under Tennessee’s current Major Disaster Declarations for the tornadoes and severe weather on March 3, 2020.
“These counties will now receive federal reimbursement assistance for their costs related to damaged infrastructure and recovery measures,” Gov. Lee said. “We continue to work closely with our federal partners to help our counties and communities receive rebuilding and recovery help.”
The updated Major Disaster Declaration also makes Tennessee’s declared counties – Benton, Carroll, Davidson, Putnam, Smith, and Wilson – eligible for federal reimbursement in all available categories of the federal PA program.
This means costs associated with damage to county roads and bridges, water control facilities, buildings and equipment, utilities, and parks also are eligible for federal reimbursement under the Major Disaster Declaration.
Additional information on the federal Public Assistance program is available at tn.gov/tema/recover/public-assistance.html.
The six declared counties reported more than $68 million in estimated impacts to county infrastructure and for costs associated with counties’ response and recovery measures.
This estimated total impact to local governments includes $32 million for Davidson County, $17 million for Wilson, $5 million for Putnam, $400,000 in Smith, and more than $200,000 each in Benton and Carroll. Agencies of the State of Tennessee estimated more than $11 million in estimated cost impact.
The tornadoes and severe storms on March 3, 2020, caused 25 weather-related fatalities, damaged or destroyed more than 4,000 structures, including five public schools, left 101,521 residents without power, and closed State Government offices.
Tennessee remains in a State of Emergency and the State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville, Tenn. continues to operate in support of the ongoing disaster response.
The mission of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders. Follow TEMA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and, at www.tn.gov/tema.
Click here to see Smith County Insider’s aerial drone footage of the tornado damage in Smith County.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXsnFeg9JU4
For additional information about the March 3 tornadoes, visit the National Weather Service website.
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