Nashville Mayor Addresses FEMA Assistance Uncertainty After Winter Storm

Mayor Freddie O'Connell visits Bordeaux neighborhood to offer help and assess damage from Winter Storm Fern.

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell went door-to-door in the Bordeaux neighborhood, alongside Hands on Nashville volunteers, to offer assistance to residents dealing with tree debris from Winter Storm Fern. The mayor addressed questions about who will pay for storm damage costs if President Trump does not sign the Emergency Declaration sent by Governor Bill Lee.

Why it matters

The uncertainty around FEMA assistance has left Nashville officials concerned about how to cover the costs of storm response and recovery efforts. This highlights the challenges cities face in securing federal aid during natural disasters, especially when political factors come into play.

The details

Mayor O'Connell said the city is 'reallocating focus on storm response and recovery, and then the generosity and volunteer efforts of thousands of Nashvillians at this point.' The Nashville Department of Transportation is offering free debris pickup throughout the city, with no size limit on what residents can place at the curb. The city has also established the Winter Weather Relief Fund to aid Nashvillians who have lost income as a result of the storm.

  • Winter Storm Fern hit Nashville in early February 2026.
  • Mayor O'Connell visited the Bordeaux neighborhood on February 6, 2026 to assess damage and offer assistance.

The players

Freddie O'Connell

The mayor of Nashville, Tennessee who is overseeing the city's response and recovery efforts following Winter Storm Fern.

Bill Lee

The governor of Tennessee who has requested an Emergency Declaration from President Trump to secure federal assistance for storm damage.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who has not yet decided whether to sign the Emergency Declaration requested by Governor Lee.

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What they’re saying

“This is exactly how Nashville responds in times of crisis. We support one another.”

— Freddie O'Connell, Mayor of Nashville (WSMV)

“The President responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration, ensuring American tax dollars are used appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement—not substitute—their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters. The Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with State and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes, making response less urgent and recovery less prolonged.”

— White House (WSMV)

What’s next

The White House has not firmly stated whether President Trump will sign the Emergency Declaration requested by Governor Lee, leaving Nashville officials uncertain about how to cover the costs of storm response and recovery efforts.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges cities face in securing federal disaster assistance, especially when political factors come into play. Nashville is working to support residents through volunteer efforts and local funds, but the lack of clarity around FEMA aid creates financial uncertainty for the city's recovery efforts.