Between March 2 and April 30, Davidson County General Sessions Court will operate a Winter Storm Support Docket for tenants who cannot pay rent due to complications from January’s ice storm. The Nashville Banner reports that the docket will help individuals apply for community-based rent assistance to prevent evictions and remain in their homes. Tenants facing eviction who are defendants in detainer actions will appear on the regular docket, at which point the court may determine eligibility for the support docket. Tenants facing evictions for non-monetary reasons are not eligible.

The Nashville Electric Service (NES) announced expanded financial assistance for customers affected by the recent ice storm. According to WSMV, the utility donated $1 million to NeedLink Nashville. Customers can apply for assistance online at NeedLink.org, by mail or by calling 615-269-6835. Applications can also be submitted in person on Mondays or Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST at NeedLink’s office inside Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3900 West End Ave, Nashville 37205. “Leveraging an existing partnership, the program provides temporary bill assistance to customers in need. An application is required to receive the financial aid, and NeedLink manages both the application process and the distribution of funds,” NES said in a statement.

Gov. Bill Lee is proposing a statewide fund to help fill gaps left by cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On Thursday, the Tennessee Senate approved $100 million for the “Governor’s Response and Recovery Fund,” along with ongoing funding to establish a four-person staff. According to Chattanooga Times Free Press, the fund would assist smaller communities that have difficulty qualifying for federal disaster declarations. The Senate approved SB2232 by a vote of 29-1. Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said the state is right to plan ahead but cautioned that $100 million, though significant in a tightening budget, could be quickly depleted if FEMA reduces funding. Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, a sponsor of the bill, said the revamped fund would provide a pathway for local governments and individuals to seek state assistance when federal aid is unavailable or insufficient.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, has asked Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to request additional assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) specifically for Shelby County, the Commercial Appeal reports. Cohen said the funding is “essential” to help the county recover from a winter storm that swept through the region last month and caused “extensive damages.” In January, President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Tennessee and FEMA released $3.75 million to reimburse the state. Earlier this month, the president also approved an expedited major disaster declaration for 23 counties in the state. Cohen is seeking an additional request for public assistance funding for Shelby County, citing updated damage estimates of nearly $7 million.

After Winter Storm Fern left more than 300,000 Tennesseans without power and caused widespread damage, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration on Feb. 6 — but only for public assistance, not yet for individuals. FEMA is still reviewing whether uninsured or underinsured residents will qualify for federal aid, and there is no timeline for a decision. The storm killed 29 people, caused prolonged outages in Nashville and led to significant infrastructure repairs, prompting state officials to urge residents to document damages and file insurance claims. So far, 15 counties have been approved for full public assistance and eight more for emergency protective measures. The Tennessee Lookout has the story.

Gov. Bill Lee announced Friday that President Donald Trump approved his request for a major disaster declaration in Middle and West Tennessee counties following Winter Storm Fern. The declaration makes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public assistance available to eligible government entities and certain nonprofit organizations in 15 counties (Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Davidson, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Perry, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, and Williamson) to support response and recovery efforts. This is in addition to eight counties (Decatur, Dickson, Hardeman, Lawrence, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, and Wilson) earlier approved for the same assistance. “As Tennesseans begin the recovery process following Winter Storm Fern, I’m grateful to President Trump for granting our major disaster declaration request,” Lee said in a press release.

After last week's winter storm, many Nashville renters may be behind on their bills and possibly facing eviction. Metro Nashville's Eviction Right to Counsel Program helps connect tenants with free, experienced attorneys who can guide them through the legal maze. Eight lawyers from the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (LAS) and the Hispanic Bar Association are available to assist. In 2025, 13,000 Nashville renters faced eviction. DarKenya Waller, executive director of LAS, told News Channel 5 that "Unfortunately, Tennessee laws are not very forgiving for unpaid rent. So even if you have not had your repairs done, there are resources on the legal aid website to help you notify your landlord of the needs that you have and you must document everything."

Several state agencies have released information to help residents deal with the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern. The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office is urging consumers to use caution when selecting a business to provide tree trimming or removal services to avoid being scammed. In addition, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Department of Commerce and Insurance Commissioner Carter Lawrence have released a joint statement regarding insurance claims following the storm. The pair encourage residents to review the online resources available and file a complaint about any storm-related insurance claims believed to be wrongfully denied. Finally, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is encouraging residents to report property damage caused by the storm to help it demonstrate the need for a federal major disaster declaration.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Friday it will deliver more than $11 million in combined emergency assistance to Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana to speed disaster responses following a severe winter storm, according to Tennessee Lookout. The funding includes $3.75 million to reimburse the state of Tennessee. The money may be used for generator deployment, temporary heating for facilities and vulnerable populations, emergency debris removal, shelter operations, activation of state and local emergency operations centers, emergency logistics, medical support and law enforcement and public safety operations. Last week, President Donald Trump approved emergency declarations for 12 states, including Tennessee. Gov. Bill Lee also is seeking an expedited major disaster declaration for 23 counties in the state.

Gov. Bill Lee on Wednesday requested that President Donald Trump grant an expedited major disaster declaration for 23 Tennessee counties following impacts from Winter Storm Fern. The request seeks Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) public and individual assistance to support response and recovery efforts statewide. According to a news release, the expedited request covers counties where damage is already evident and expected to exceed federal assistance thresholds, allowing resources to reach Tennesseans more quickly. Damage assessments are ongoing and will determine whether additional counties qualify. The request includes Cheatham, Chester, Clay, Davidson, Decatur, Dickson, Hardeman, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Maury, Perry, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Wayne, Williamson and Wilson counties.