FEMA approves disaster unemployment aid for Decatur County workers after winter storms

Decatur County workers who lost wages after January’s severe winter storms had a federal aid deadline hanging over them: June 9 to apply for disaster unemployment assistance. The program covered employees, self-employed people and workers who were scheduled to start jobs but could not because of storm damage.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development said FEMA approved the aid for 29 Tennessee counties, including Decatur County, after the severe winter storms that began Jan. 22, 2026. The disaster period for the unemployment program runs from Jan. 25 through Aug. 8, giving eligible workers a path to recover income lost because of the weather.

To qualify, applicants must have exhausted regular unemployment benefits or not qualify for them at all. They also must have worked, been self-employed or been scheduled to work in the disaster area and now be unable to do that work because of direct storm damage, injury or the death of a household breadwinner. That makes the benefit especially important for hourly workers, independent contractors and small business operators in places like Decaturville, Parsons, Scotts Hill and Bath Springs, where a missed paycheck can quickly turn into overdue bills.

Applications opened April 23 and can be filed online through Jobs4TN.gov or by phone at 1-877-813-0950, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT. For families still dealing with cleanup costs, lost shifts and interrupted work schedules, the aid offers a time-limited chance to replace income tied directly to the storm.

The unemployment assistance came after a broader recovery process that unfolded in stages. Gov. Bill Lee first asked for an expedited major disaster declaration for 23 counties on Jan. 28, saying damage assessments were still underway and that more counties could qualify later. By April 11, Tennessee said FEMA Individual Assistance had been expanded to 29 counties, including Decatur County. State emergency officials also said all 95 Tennessee counties were designated for FEMA Public Assistance or emergency protective measures, showing how widely the storms hit.

The Tennessee Department of Health had reported 29 weather-related deaths by Feb. 4, and the state emergency operations center stayed activated at Level 3 while power restoration continued. TEMA also opened a disaster information line in Cookeville, 1-844-4TENN-4U, to help residents find recovery information. For Decatur County workers still absorbing the economic shock, the unemployment aid deadline was one of the clearest remaining lines between recovery and another financial setback.