Tornadoes

April 11, 2008 -- (JACKSON, Mississippi) — Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today requested President George W. Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare Hinds County as a major disaster area after the county sustained large amounts of damage from the severe weather and tornado outbreak April 4.

Tornado damage: Photo by Andrew Freese (CC)    » read more »

8:30 a.m. - Situation Update 2

04-10-2008 -- A powerful storm system is beginning to exit the state. In the wake of yesterday's storms there will be strong winds across the state today with an isolated chance of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures will be much cooler into the weekend with a chance of freezing temperatures across the northern half of the state Saturday morning.

Oklahoma tornado drill postponed due to severe weather: Photo by woodley wonderworks (CC)

Injuries and Fatalities

Injuries were reported in Muldrow following the storm that moved through the area Wednesday night.    » read more »

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 9, 2008 -- Federal disaster aid programs provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are available under a presidential disaster declaration to eligible residents living in Baxter, Benton, Independence, Jackson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Randolph, Stone and Woodruff.

Arkansas River Flooding: Photo by dewonn43 / David (CC)

If you don't have access to your home or the place you rented is uninhabitable because of flooding that occurred in March and April, you may request reimbursement for temporary housing. FEMA is making every effort to locate possible rental resources in or around disaster-stricken areas.    » read more »

April 7, 2008 -- JACKSON, Mississippi - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour today declared a State of Emergency for 12 Mississippi counties following a severe weather system and tornadoes which hit parts of Central Mississippi, including the Jackson Metro area. The Governor announced the State of Emergency while touring neighborhoods in Northeast Jackson, which were among the hardest-hit areas from Friday’s storm and tornadoes.

Tornado formation in Mississippi: Photo by Fujoshi (CC)    » read more »

WASHINGTON, D.C. March 26, 2008 -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for Arkansas to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on March 18, 2008, and continuing.    » read more »

Declaration Request Covers Atlanta, Fulton County

March 17, 2008 -- CARTERSVILLE, Ga. – Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue today announced that he has asked President Bush for an expedited major disaster declaration to assist the City of Atlanta and Fulton County with recovery efforts in the wake of storms that hit the city on Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15, 2008. If approved, this declaration will provide federal funds for emergency response measures and aid for losses.    » read more »

March 15, 2008 -- FEMA is already working with the State of Georgia to coordinate needed federal assistance in response to the tornado that hit downtown Atlanta Friday night. A FEMA liaison has been working with the state in its emergency operation center since early Saturday morning. The FEMA Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center in Thomasville, GA has been activated and staffed.

FEMA and the State will begin joint individual assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments today. Full damage assessments will begin this afternoon, to include public assistance (infrastructure).    » read more »

15 March 2008 -- A tornado ripped through the U.S. city of Atlanta, in the southeastern state of Georgia late Friday, injuring at least 30 people and causing extensive damage.

Officials told reporters Saturday the twister was 200 yards wide and traveled for six miles, cutting into the city's core.

The storm struck a major hotel, the headquarters of the Cable News Network and the Georgia Dome sports arena as thousands inside watched a college basketball game.

High wind tore holes in the dome's cloth roof, loosened bolts from the rafters and caused catwalks to sway.    » read more »

State Operations Center Activated in Response to Friday’s Severe Weather

March 15, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in the affected Atlanta area damaged by a tornado that struck last night.    » read more »

March 10, 2008, NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly five weeks after Tennessee's severe storms and tornadoes, $6.7 million has been approved in disaster assistance grants and loans for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Following are highlights of assistance as of Monday, March 10:    » read more »

March 3, 2008, NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Nearly one month after tornadoes ripped through Tennessee, more than $4.3 million has been approved in disaster assistance grants and loans for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).    » read more »

February 26, 2008, LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a grant of $137,552 to the state's mental health agency to supplement state efforts to provide crisis counseling services for those affected by the Feb. 5 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

The federal funds will support counseling in Izard, Sharp, Stone and Van Buren counties. Counseling services in other counties will be funded by the state's mental health agency, the Division of Behavioral Health Services of the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services.    » read more »

February 21, 2008, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the commonwealth of Kentucky to help people and communities recover from the effects of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of February 5-6, 2008.    » read more »

02/12/2008 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that the federal government has authorized a major disaster declaration for eight additional Tennessee counties. Benton, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Montgomery, Perry, Trousdale and Williamson will receive federal funding to assist individuals and businesses affected by the tornadoes last Tuesday.

Hardin, Macon, Madison, Shelby and Sumner Counties, which were among the hardest hit in last week’s storms, were authorized to receive federal aid last week.    » read more »

February 11, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will continue to support the states impacted by the severe storms and tornadoes.

FEMA is closely working with its state and local partners to assess damage and identify needs. Specialists from the agency are on site to support the response efforts already underway. Regional activities are as follow:

Tennessee
Status

* 1 shelters; 11 people (TN EMA/Region IV – 02/10/08 – 4:30 p.m. EST)    » read more »