NASHVILLE — The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced Feb. 7, 2026, that President Trump had approved a major disaster declaration for Tennessee following a severe winter storm that caused widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and public facilities across multiple counties.
The declaration (FEMA-4898-DR) makes federal assistance available to affected residents and businesses, including grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Public Assistance grants are also available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the storm.
A subsequent amendment to the declaration, published in the Federal Register on March 13, 2026, expanded the scope of Public Assistance to additional counties, reflecting the broader geographic impact of the storm system.
Restoration contractors in Tennessee reported significant demand for emergency water extraction, structural drying, and roof repair services in the weeks following the storm, with several regional operators activating mutual aid agreements to manage workload.
