WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) led a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to swiftly approve Governor Bill Lee’s request for a major disaster declaration following the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred throughout the state from May 8-9, 2024. 

The severe weather caused three fatalities and damage to 459 homes in Tennessee. 137 of these homes were destroyed or suffered major damage.

Read the full letter here or below.

Dear Mr. President:

We write to urge swift approval of Governor Bill Lee’s request for a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act due to severe weather that occurred on May 8-9, 2024.

On May 8-9, 2024, several rounds of severe thunderstorms impacted the state of Tennessee. In the early morning hours of May 8, 2024, an outflow boundary and associated line of storms moved southward out of Kentucky across the Tennessee state line. The warm, unstable air mass combined with strong upper-level atmospheric dynamics created additional waves of storms which traversed the state throughout the day. The atmospheric profile supported isolated supercell thunderstorms and eventually a broken squall line. Both types of storms produced tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. Devastatingly, the Tennessee Department of Health attributed the storms to the deaths of three Tennesseans. Additionally, due to this storm, 459 homes in Tennessee were damaged, of which, 137 homes were determined to have been destroyed or have suffered major damage.

To respond to this disaster, Governor Lee is specifically requesting Individual Assistance and Public Assistance for Cannon, Giles, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, and Sumner Counties, along with Hazard Mitigation statewide. Governor Lee’s request is attached. On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we urge you to approve this request as soon as possible.

 Our offices can provide you with any additional information you need.

On June 7, 2024, Governor Lee sent a letter requesting President Biden declare a major disaster declaration for the State of Tennessee as a result of severe storms, tornadoes, winds, hail, and flooding that occurred May 8-9, 2024.

Senator Blackburn was joined by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.) in sending the letter.

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