Gov. Lee requests major disaster declaration for FEMA aid for storm that knocked out power for 300K

By: Cassandra Stephenson

Outlets: Tennessee Lookout

Published: January 29, 2026

Words: 406

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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Gov. Bill Lee requested an expedited major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump Thursday in hopes of speeding up federal recovery assistance for 23 Tennessee counties most impacted by a massive winter storm.

The storm and bitterly cold temperatures that followed left swaths of the state with dangerously icy roadways, decimated thousands of trees and knocked out power for more than 300,000 customers, including more than 225,000 in Nashville alone.

President Trump approved an emergency …

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