Tennessee to receive additional $34 million from FEMA for Helene, January winter storm recovery

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - FEMA announced on Tuesday that it will provide Tennessee with an additional $34 million to support more than a dozen state projects related to the recovery from 2024’s Hurricane Helene and the January 2026 winter storm.

While projects related to other disasters are included in the allocation, FEMA said that the following are some of the most notable receiving aid:

• $22.4 million for debris removal operations in Nashville related to the January 2026 winter storm
• $4.3 million to the Tennessee Department of Transportation for debris operations related to Helene
• $1.7 million for debris removal in Forest Hills related to the winter storm
• $1.2 million for Helene management costs in Washington County
• $920,634 for Mountain Electric Cooperative for Helene utility repairs
• $649,550 for winter storm debris removal in Belle Meade
• $463,015 for Nashville Electric Service utility repairs related to the winter storm
• $410,288 for Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation critical infrastructure restoration related to winter storm
• $329,079 for Columbia Power and Water Systems utility repairs related to winter storm

FEMA said that the agency will reimburse those recovery costs “at no less than a 75% federal cost share” through the Public Assistance program.