CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — President Donald Trump officially approved Governor Bill Lee’s major disaster declaration request for 19 counties following April’s severe storms. 

With the major disaster declaration comes the availability of funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Part of those funds will provide much-needed help for Montgomery County residents, some of whom are still displaced following flood damage.

That includes Carol Ryals, who lives in the Farmington neighborhood.

"I was sleeping on the couch and all of a sudden, you hear the pumps go off and we could see the water coming up quickly ... And by five in the morning, I think I was in shock — I was just shaking,” Ryals said.

Montgomery County officials admitted to inadvertently pumping thousands of gallons of water into the Farmington subdivision while trying to relieve rising waters in the Dunlop area. Ryals has tried to focus on what lies ahead as they push through heat-filled days in a camper she and her husband are now staying in.  

“I have it planned for paint in July, and then kitchen, then counter tops, and I'm learning to become a contractor because to save money, I really needed — the price was overwhelming if you hired a contractor, and we needed to pinch every penny we could," Ryals told News 2.

Finally, the family's getting some much-needed help. Nearly three months after the storm, FEMA funds have been made available to help storm victims thanks to a disaster declaration announced earlier this month.

“Once it was released and we filled out the form, they [FEMA] were here within 12 hours it seems like; it was shocking how quick they were here,” Ryals said. “I think it's important that people reach out to their neighbors if they have knowledge and can do it.” 

Ryals is grateful for the incoming funds in addition to YAIPAK, a GoFundMe page, and her in-laws letting her and her husband barrow their camper.

“We have a place to live and some people that's been hit with these natural disasters — they lost everything. They lost their house. We have our house," Ryals said. "We're rebuilding, but they don't even have the framework to start with, and I just can't imagine."

Ryals hopes to return home sometime in August.

If you want help applying for federal funding, you can head to the Clarksville Montgomery County Library any time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/clarksville/fema-funding-aims-to-help-montgomery-county-storm-victims/