President Obama Signs Tennessee Disaster Declaration

WASHINGTON - The President declared Tuesday a major disaster exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding beginning on April 19, 2011, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Dyer, Lake, Obion, Shelby, and Stewart Counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in the counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henderson, Henry, Houston, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, Montgomery, Obion, Shelby, and Stewart.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.