Obion County Mayor Steve Carr on Sunday declared a state of emergency in the town of Rives, after the Obion River breached levees and flooded the 250-person town. Obion County Emergency Management Agency Director Danny Jowers said that while the damage is devastating to the small community, it’s likely not enough to qualify for federal assistance for disaster recovery, reports the Tennessee Lookout. Gov. Bill Lee toured damage in Obion County and shared information about overnight shelters and warming shelters. The Rives flooding comes weeks after the Tennessee General Assembly approved a disaster relief package for communities recovering from Hurricane Helene on the opposite end of the state.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (DOT) will receive $9.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state officials to clear more than 450,000 cubic yards of debris following Hurricane Helene, officials announced Friday. According to WBIR, the funding, authorized under FEMA's Public Assistance program, is expected to conclude by Feb. 28. The debris removal is taking place across roads and public property in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.

The state House and Senate today voted in favor of a statewide school voucher bill that had previously eluded Gov. Bill Lee through his first six years in office, the Tennessean reports. Under the bill (SB6001/HB6004), 20,000 students would receive $7,300 subsidies to help pay for private school tuition. Half of the Education Freedom Scholarships would be income-limited to those from families earning less than 300% of the federal reduced-rate income limit, or about $175,000. A second bill (SB6005/HB6005) funding Education Freedom Scholarships, teacher bonuses and school infrastructure also passed. Last night, the House approved millions in relief funds for Eastern Tennessee, which saw flooding from Hurricane Helene in September. The bills approved allow the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to provide assistance at the request of local governments, suspend certain unemployment eligibility requirements for residents in the disaster area, establish two funds to assist with disaster relief and give 2024 property tax breaks to those whose homes were destroyed or damaged as a result of the hurricane. An amendment to use $50 million from the state’s rainy-day fund for grants to those who lost homes during the disaster was rejected, the Nashville Post reports. WKRN provides additional details about the recovery funds and the Tennessee Transportation Financing Authority (TTFA). The Senate approved SB6003/HB6003, SB6004/HB6002 and HB6007/SB6007 on Wednesday and SB6005/HB6005 today.

The American Bar Association (ABA) is mobilizing to assist victims of the wildfires in Southern California. Since erupting in the Los Angeles area on Jan. 7, the wildfires have reportedly burned more than 60 square miles of land and claimed at least 25 lives, making them some of the most destructive wildfires in the region's history, the ABA Journal reports. The ABA Young Lawyers Division's Disaster Legal Services program has supported survivors in the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters since 2007. Disaster Legal Services has responded to more than 300 declared disasters in 45 states and five U.S. territories. The program is now coordinating the delivery of free legal services in California. Former President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in the state on Jan. 8 and directed federal aid to assist areas affected by the wildfires and straight-line winds. Volunteers can sign up using the Disaster Legal Services volunteer interest form or email director@abaylddls.org. Members can also donate to support free civil legal aid for victims of the Southern California wildfires.

Gov. Bill Lee has announced a special legislative session to convene on Jan. 27. The session will focus on advancing his school voucher bill, as well as disaster relief funding and immigration issues, The Tennessean reports. This will be Lee’s seventh special legislative session since taking office in 2019, more than any other governor in state history according to the paper. Lee’s voucher proposal failed last year. A special session, which allows lawmakers to focus solely on topics designated by the governor, could clear the way for the bill’s passage. Regarding immigration issues, the governor’s office said he is asking the General Assembly to consider “public safety” measures to ensure the state is prepared for federal policy implementation. Read the governor's full statement.

Congress is putting another $100 billion into disaster relief funding, the Associated Press reports. The funds include $29 million for FEMA to help those recovering from recent hurricanes, $21 billion to help farmers, $12 billion for community recovery through Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grants, $8 billion for rebuilding damaged roads and highways, and $2.2 billion for low-interest loans for businesses, nonprofits and homeowners trying to rebuild after a disaster. The funding is in a bill to keep the government operating through March 14, 2025. President Joe Biden signed it into law on Saturday.

The Washington County Long Term Recovery Group — a community-led group working to assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene — is putting together an advocacy committee of volunteer attorneys to be a resource to case managers working with affected individuals. As case managers identify legal issues, they will refer those to the advocacy committee. Practioners in a range of fields are invited to participate. For more information or to join the effort contact Melissa Reading, 423-794-4009. The Washington County Bar Association announced the new group in an email today.

The Biden administration on Friday made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Tennessee for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of Hurricane Helene. The action increases the level of federal funding from 75% to 100% of the total eligible costs for a period of 120 days — of the state’s choosing — within the first 180 days from the start of the incident on Sept. 26. For individual assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reporting that it has approved more than $21.9 million for 6,327 Tennessee households affected by the storm, according to WBIR News. Residents in upper East Tennessee have until Jan. 7, 2025, to apply for FEMA assistance.

In an email from the Washington County Bar Association, Erwin attorney Lois B. Shults-Davis writes about the continuing needs of East Tennessee residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. She notes that at least four law officers have lost their homes and/or vehicles; one former longtime EMS worker lost his home; at least one court worker lost a home; and multiple attorneys in Elizabethton had flood damage to their offices. She praises the support that has been “poured on Unicoi, Carter and Washington counties” and asks colleagues to consider donating an hour, day, week or more of income to the Unicoi County Bar Association to continue revitalization efforts. The association will make resources available to those who have sustained substantial loss of homes, cars and businesses. Read the full message or contact Shults-Davis at 423-743-9179 for more information.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced Tuesday it would call for an Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation into an employee who directed personnel to bypass houses with Trump campaign signs during the federal response to Hurricane Milton. According to The Hill, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell testified before Congress that the employee was fired for issuing the order, which she called “completely at odds with FEMA’s mission.” The fired employee told media on Monday that she has been framed and denied violating the Hatch Act, which restricts political activity by government employees. Earlier this month, Gov. Bill Lee announced plans to investigate whether Tennesseans were discriminated against during FEMA's relief efforts following damage in the state from Hurricane Helene.