NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)—Tennessee’s Governor Bill Lee has taken executive action in response to the severe climate and historic rainfall and flooding in February.
Under Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order, which he signed Thursday to allow more flood recovery efforts to start the method of maintaining a federal catastrophe, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) will begin joint assessments with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The file rains caused statewide destruction; currently, eighty-three counties have stated climate-associated harm.
“As waters recede and we are now capable of completely evaluating the quantity of flooding harm throughout our country, I signed an executive order as a key step in working with the federal authorities for similar recovery efforts,” said Lee. “We thank the first responders who are running diligently to hold citizens secure and supply offerings.”
A press release states the executive order suspends positive legal guidelines to enable smoother health care delivery, coverage, remedy components and personnel, and other recuperation additives. The order is retroactively effective February 6, 2019, while the flooding and extreme weather began to ensure that it covers all comfort efforts. It’s going to stay in effect until April 7, 2019. In February, Knoxville saw a record of more than 13 inches of rainfall.
The Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, and TEMA have been coordinating with local authorities to gather all the necessary information to implement restoration efforts. This marks the beginning of attracting federal authorities to help with investment and other sources. Gov. Lee is surveying the damages on Friday, starting with Hardin County and the surrounding groups.
