RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Earlier this month, in the wake of severe weather and tornadoes that struck Tennessee on May 8-9, 2024, Governor Bill Lee requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden. This declaration aimed to secure federal disaster assistance for six counties, including Rutherford County, to support recovery efforts and provide economic relief. However, the request did not meet the needed approval.

The Office of Emergency Management informed Rutherford County officials that the county did not meet the required financial damage thresholds for non-insured or under-insured citizens. This shortfall prevented impacted homeowners from participating in programs that would have provided low-interest financial assistance from FEMA due to the recent storms, among other items.

The last instance of FEMA assistance in the immediate area of Rutherford and Cannon Counties was due to tornadoes in 2023. On March 31 and April 1 of last year, destructive storms swept through the area, causing widespread damage. As a result, the area was declared a disaster, and special low-interest loans were approved for qualifying homeowners. At the time, Yabsira Adera from the Small Business Administration told WGNS that the interest rate for homeowners was under 3%, with some loan recipients also receiving 12 months at 0% interest under a special deferment program. Just two weeks after Tennessee was granted a major disaster declaration for the March 31 to April 1 storms and tornadoes, more than $1.6 million in federal assistance was approved for Tennessee homeowners, renters, and business owners.