Biden approves Emergency Declaration for Tennessee counties, including Hawkins

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Sunday that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of Tennessee to supplement response efforts to address emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Helene.

The president’s action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to alleviate the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population and to provide appropriate assistance to save lives, to protect property, public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures limited to direct federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care, including evacuation and shelter support for Greene, Cocke, Hawkins and Washington counties.

Federal funding is available for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance for Carter, Johnson and Unicoi counties.

Darryl L. Dragoo was named the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.