Tennessee Emergency Management Agency
James Bassham, Director

TEMA would like to urge everyone affected by the August flooding to take a look at these Best Practices for Taking Care of Your Family, Yourself and Your Home after a Flood. Water Quality Stay out of floodwaters as much as possible to avoid any potential contamination. As the flood waters recede, water service systems will be [...]

The State Emergency Operations Center in Nashville was partially activated with a Level 3 activation Thursday morning at 8 a.m. due to localized flooding and to conduct preliminary damage assessments in affected counties. The Cumberland River is expected to crest at 40-feet (flood stage) later today, according to the National Weather Service. At Level 3 activation, [...]

Low-Interest Loans Could Aid Residents in Putnam and Surrounding Counties   NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen has requested assistance from the Small Business Administration to help speed recovery in Putnam County and the contiguous counties to help individuals and businesses as they recover from the flooding damages that occurred on August 16, 2010. The additional counties that would be eligible for SBA loans are Fentress, Overton, Jackson, Smith, DeKalb, White and Cumberland. Flood damage to homes and businesses occurred in multiple locations.    A survey by the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the SBA indicates more than 25 homes and businesses in Putnam County sustained uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of their estimated pre-disaster fair market value.

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NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (TDMHDD) received a $2.1 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to continue providing mental health outreach, counseling, and educational services to individuals impacted by the severe storms, historic flooding, and tornados that began April 30, 2010. The grant will begin September 1, 2010.

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As students across Tennessee head back to school, it is important for us to remember this is the first time many students will re-enter a classroom since the severe weather and flooding that occurred in May.    The back to school process can become part of the healing process. Returning to the classroom provides two key recovery elements for children and youth who have experienced a traumatic event: routine and recreation. Maintaining a normal routine that includes time for recreational activities and expression of feelings through conversation, writing or art can help children return to pre-crisis stress levels at a much quicker pace. Parents and teachers should encourage and provide opportunities for children to express themselves about their feelings surrounding the events that occurred in May. 

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Tennessee Homeowners, Business Owners have Only Two Weeks to File Applications   NASHVILLE – Tennessee homeowners and business owners affected by historic floods this spring have only two weeks remaining to seek relief on their local property taxes.   Governor Phil Bredesen signed into law a bill unanimously approved by lawmakers in May that allows local taxing districts in the 46 counties that were declared federal disaster areas to reassess homes that were damaged in the storms.   Under the new law, Public Chapter 1036, any home that has been deemed unfit for use for more than 30 days or any home that sustained damages equal to more than 50 percent of the home’s pre-flood value would be eligible for an assessment reduction. The law is only applicable in communities where the local governing bodies chose by two-thirds vote to participate in the tax relief program. Applications must be filed with the local property assessor’s office by Sept. 1.

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