U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis has asked Gov. Bill Lee to make a disaster declaration for Shelby County, after severe thunderstorms last week damaged businesses, homes and utilities, Action News 5 reports. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declared a local state of emergency on July 21. In his letter to the governor, Cohen noted that the West Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has estimated that damage from high winds will exceed $11 million. In addition, a diesel fuel leak from a generator in Germantown has affected approximately 4.5 million gallons of water. Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo told a press conference that the diesel-contaminated water will be "pumped away" from homes into the stormwater conveyance system that leads to the Wolf River, reports the Commercial Appeal.

President Joe Biden approved federal disaster assistance for Tennessee today to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms that occurred March 1-3. The designation allows federal disaster assistance to be made available to affected individuals in Benton, Bledsoe, Campbell, Carroll, Cheatham, Clay, Crockett, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Fentress, Gibson, Giles, Grundy, Hamilton, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Moore, Obion, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Rhea, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner, Tipton, Wayne and White counties. Those who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance online or by calling 800-621-3362 Learn more about ways you can help.

President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for Tennessee today. The designation allows federal disaster assistance to be made available to affected individuals in Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton and Wayne counties for recovery efforts following storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes on March 31 and April 1. 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. Those who sustained losses can begin applying for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. Funding is also available for affected state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. Learn more about ways to help.

ABC News 24 reports that Gov. Bill Lee made an emergency declaration to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton and Wayne counties for debris removal and emergency protective measures related to the March 31 and April 1 tornado and severe weather response. If that request is granted, FEMA will also provide direct aid to eligible Tennessee residents in the requested counties for disaster-related costs and expenses. 

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has confirmed at least 15 weather-related deaths after last weekend’s storms in five counties: McNairy, Shelby, Roane, Tipton and Henry. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) also estimates that more than 260 homes were damaged, and according to the National Weather Service, tornadoes touched down in Covington and Adamsville and Lewis County. Shelters are open in Readyville, Covington and Waynesboro, according to Action News 5. Gov. Bill Lee has not requested a federal disaster declaration but those in need of legal assistance can call the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services’ helpline at 1-844-HELP4TN. Attorneys interested in volunteering to help storm victims can sign up here. Also be sure to check out the TBA’s disaster resources webpage for more ways to help.

Metro Nashville on Tuesday filed suit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over more than $11 million in denied reimbursement claims stemming from the 2010 Nashville flood, the Nashville Post reports. Metro says it spent the money on repairs to the K.R. Harrington Water Treatment Facility and Metro Transit Authority facilities following the flood. Reimbursement requests for the repairs have been denied several times by FEMA. Metro claims reimbursements were denied once due to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency failing to timely forward its appeal request on to the federal government. Another denial, Metro alleges, was due to “a typographic error.” Baker Donelson is representing Metro in the case.

President Joe Biden has granted a major disaster declaration for seven Tennessee counties as a result of a winter storm last month, the Associated Press reports. The declaration will give local jurisdictions and some private, nonprofit organizations access to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program. Counties included in the declaration include Crockett, Fayette, Haywood, Lauderdale, Shelby, Tipton and Weakley. Gov. Bill Lee requested the declaration, while the state’s congressional delegation supported it.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee yesterday sought a federal disaster declaration for damage in the Memphis area following an ice storm on Feb. 3, the Daily Memphian reports. The Memphis City Council had earlier approved a resolution urging Lee to seek such a declaration and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, had called on the governor to make the request. Last month, Lee asked FEMA to assess damage from the storm, which resulted in downed trees and more than 100,000 homes and businesses going without electricity, some for more than a week.

Free legal services are available via the Disaster Legal Services (DLS) program for those affected by the line of tornadoes that hit counties in Middle and West Tennessee in December. DLS helps individuals in federally declared disaster areas receive free legal assistance related to insurance claims, consumer and housing issues, government benefits, replacement of important documents and other issues. Services include a legal helpline 844-HELP4TN (844-435-7486) operated by Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services (TALS). Individuals and households in the 12 Tennessee counties designated under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Major Disaster Declaration are eligible to apply for financial and direct services. Lawyers from across the state are invited to complete this online form to volunteer with DLS. West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS) will host a clinic for storm survivors on March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. Volunteer attorneys will meet with clients via video conference and will receive case information prior to the event. Contact WTLS Pro Bono Coordinator Andy Cole for more information. DLS is a partnership between TBA, TALS, FEMA, WTLS, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Nashville Bar Association and Tennessee Fair Housing Council. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has asked federal emergency management officials to help assess whether counties affected by recent winter storms can receive funds to assist with power restoration, Fox 17 News reports. The move comes after U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, asked Lee to seek emergency assistance. The request asks FEMA to work with the state emergency department to conduct a preliminary damage assessment after freezing rain, sleet and snow impacted West and Middle Tennessee counties earlier this month. More than 30,000 homes and businesses remained without electrical service in Memphis this week, according to Memphis Light, Gas & Water.