The City’s preliminary estimate of storm related damages has passed the $9.07 million threshold required to receive federal assistance, according to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
Initially, estimated to be just $5 million, the cost of damages to government buildings, schools, and infrastructure, as well as clean up costs has now risen to $9,974,989.
The mayor says this number has been submitted to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, who by law must coordinate at the federal level in order for the City to receive assistance.
Federal assistance could mean an 80 percent reimbursement of the City’s cost, financial assistance for individuals whose homes have been damaged, and low-interest loans for small businesses.
As the cost of storm damages add up, the number of those without power after Saturday night’s storm is steadily decreasing and is now down to about 30,000.
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water has brought in 97 outside crews, with around 900 people working in the field today.
However, crews will be focusing on smaller outages in the coming days which means full restoration is still expected to take up to a week.
Meanwhile, Public Works has been able to clear 312 of reported trees in the street, with a remaining 199 to tackle.
