SUNBRIGHT, Tenn. — After an EF-1 tornado swept through the small community of Sunbright, ripping apart buildings and sending debris flying through the area, the Morgan County Emergency Management Agency said it would not get financial support from the federal or state governments to rebuild.
Crews from the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were in Sunbright on Friday to assess the damage and tally the cost to recover. They worked to make sure "immediate, life-safety needs were met," and evaluated the damage against federal criteria.
The damage did not meet the criteria. So, Sunbright would not get federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and neither from Tennessee, according to the Morgan County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
"If you have been affected by the tornado, it is recommended that you begin by taking pictures of any weather-related damage before cleanup efforts and contacting your insurance company. During any cleanup efforts, avoid entering into any collapsed structures and avoid downed power lines," said the county office.
It also said people can reach out to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance for help navigating insurance and contractors following a disaster. The department has information on its website at this link or by calling (615)-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
Morgan County leaders are also going to be at a town hall meeting on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. to answer questions about the tornado and the damage it left in its wake. The meeting will be at the Sunbright Community Center, located at 120 Melton Drive.
No deaths were reported in the tornado. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R - TN) previously visited the area and said he would visit with Governor Bill Lee about how leaders could support the Sunbright community.