Lewis County Seeks Additional Funding Following Winter Storm Fern

Lewis County officials report that Winter Storm Fern caused widespread damage across the community, including fallen trees and limbs, downed power lines, blocked roads, and extended outages of heat and water. County Mayor Jonah Keltner described the storm as the worst natural disaster in his lifetime.

Governor Bill Lee declared a State of Emergency on January 22, and the federal government approved Tennessee’s Major Disaster Declaration on February 6, allowing counties to seek reimbursement for disaster-related costs.

To assist residents, county officials waived Transfer Station tipping fees for storm debris in February and March, opened on Sundays throughout February, and remained open on Presidents Day for additional disposal opportunities at no cost.

Due to the volume of debris and limited local resources, Lewis County has issued a Request for Proposal for debris removal and monitoring services. FEMA is expected to reimburse 75% of costs, with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency providing 12.5%, leaving the county responsible for an estimated 12.5% local match. Cleanup is projected to total roughly 100,000 tons of debris, with an estimated cost near $5 million, resulting in a potential $625,000 local share.

Mayor Keltner requested assistance in identifying state or federal funding opportunities, including grants, forgivable loans, or special allocations, to help the county recover.