Severe weather impacted 11 Tennessee counties, with reports of 13 tornadoes on Saturday night. Six people died in Clarksville and Madison and 83 injured patients were rushed to area hospitals in the aftermath of what is likely the deadliest December for Middle Tennessee tornadoes on record, according to the Tennessean. Gov. Bill Lee and affected counties have issued state of emergency declarations and the Tennessee legal services community is prepared to provide assistance to those affected. The Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services' website Help4TN is always available with legal information and resources, and individuals with disaster related legal questions may call 844-HELP4TN and ask to speak with the expert disaster resilience attorney Nick Gau. Regional legal aid programs are planning clinics and other services in the coming days. More information, including a link for attorneys to volunteer to help is available on the TBA website. 

The White House recently sent a supplemental funding request to Congress that includes $21 million in disaster relief funds for the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). The agency reports this is the first time that such funding has been included in a disaster relief request. Following natural disasters, the LSC works with state partners to provide resources and information vital for communities to respond and recover. Among its initiatives, the agency hosts a Disaster Task Force and recently launched a new website designed to provide real-time disaster risk assessments, details on recent disasters, recovery guidance, connections to local aid organizations and comprehensive information for each disaster type. The group also recently featured a conversation about the role civil legal aid plays in recovery efforts in its podcast “Talk Justice.”

The U.S. has been hit by a record-breaking 23 billion-dollar disasters so far in 2023, with Tennessee suffering from 10 of them. These disasters, primarily caused by windstorms and thunderstorms, have resulted in significant damage ranging from $2 to $5 billion across the state. WPLN reports that the increase in billion-dollar disasters is part of a national trend exacerbated by climate change.

FEMA has announced that federal disaster assistance is now available to the state of Tennessee to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and straight-line winds that occurred July 18-21. Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state. Public assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal 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 and straight-line winds in Fayette, Henry, Shelby and Tipton counties. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide. For questions contact FEMA-NewsDesk-Tennessee@FEMA-DHS.gov.

The American Bar Association (ABA) is mobilizing lawyers to provide legal services to victims of the recent wildfires on Maui. A telephone hotline has been activated to connect victims in qualifying counties who cannot afford an attorney to lawyers who can respond to disaster-related legal issues. Survivors can call the hotline between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. local time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Lawyers interested in assisting can find opportunities online or donate to a special fund set up to support legal services in Maui. Read more about these efforts.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) announced today that is awarding $19.8 million to 14 legal services organizations to support the delivery of legal services to low-income people impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, floods and severe storms that occurred in 2022. Among the recipients is West Tennessee Legal Services (WTLS), which will use $849,009 to provide legal services to those impacted by severe winter weather in 2022, including two storms that were FEMA-declared disasters. WTLS also may use the funds to hire additional staff to educate affected populations on disaster-related issues and strengthen disaster-response networks.The money was made available by Congress in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.

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.