Cohen Announces More Than $3.2 Million for Flooding and Storm Damage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Memphis $2,031,645 for expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, and infrastructure, housing and economic revitalization for the storm that took place in May. Shelby County will receive $1,212,788.

“Memphians and Tennesseans still need help recovering from the storm,” said Congressman Cohen. “These new federal funds will go a long way toward helping Memphis and Shelby County recover from the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes we experienced in early May.”

The funds were made available under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program, which was funded via the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010 that Congressman Cohen supported.

In early May Congressman Cohen contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency to determine when and how the federal government could step in to help Shelby County. He joined with Congressmen Jim Cooper, Lincoln Davis and Marsha Blackburn in issuing a letter to urge the Governor to request a Preliminary Damage Assessment – a first step that had to take place before asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

Once the Governor requested federal help, Congressman Cohen joined the Congressmen and Senators from Tennessee to ask President Obama to approve the request for disaster relief as quickly as possible, which he did.

Congressman Cohen toured neighborhoods to see the damage firsthand and will continue to push the federal government to do everything possible for as much federal help as possible for the 9th District.