Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called on President Trump for federal emergency aid after the “intentional” explosion that shook downtown Nashville on Christmas morning.
It is estimated that 41 companies were damaged in the bombing and many residents were displaced. Three people were injured.
EXPLOSION NASHVILLE: OFFICIALS LOOK FOR HOUSE CONNECTED TO PERSON OF INTEREST, HAVE MORE THAN 500 TIPS: REPORT
In a letter shared Friday on Twitter, Lee detailed other impacts.
“The explosions directly impacted AT & T’s communication systems across the state of Tennessee, with additional impacts in Kentucky and northern Alabama,” he wrote.
The system failure affected home phones, cell phone services and more than 20 public security service points that function as 911 call centers. He also suspended flights to and from Nashville International Airport for part of the day, the governor said.
A police officer goes through the damage of an explosion in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, Friday, December 25, 2020. Buildings rocked in the immediate area and beyond after a crash was heard on Christmas morning. (AP Photo / Mark Humphrey)
The Federal Aviation Association has already issued a temporary flight restriction around the airport, requiring pilots to follow strict procedures until Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Lee said federal assistance is needed “to complement the efforts and resources available from the state, local governments, aid organizations and insurance compensation for disaster-related losses.”
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Between February 2019 and December 2020, the state of Tennessee spent “much more” $ 175 million in managing response and recovery activities for major events without seeking federal help, Lee wrote.
As a result, most counties and cities have no staff or resources available “to carry out simultaneous cost accounting and to continue response activities,” the letter states.
An audio countdown emanated from the RV’s warning about a bomb and for those in the area to evacuate. (FBI)
“These extraordinary state and local expenditures have reduced our ability to recover from this current event,” said Lee. “Given these factors, the gravity and magnitude of the current situation are such that an effective response is beyond the capabilities of the affected state and local governments. . “
In a follow-up letter to Trump on Saturday, Tennessee Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Lamar Alexander reiterated Lee’s request for federal aid in the event of a disaster, noting that “the blast site remains an active crime scene”.
“The disaster is placing a significant financial burden on the state, local governments and affected individuals,” they said.
Tennessee Emergency Management Agency officials have been working to coordinate that state’s disaster response with the Nashville Metro Police, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Weapons and Explosives (ATF).
“We are grateful for your efforts to meet the needs of our communities. The first respondents and police officers worked non-stop during the holiday on this investigation and we thank you for your bravery ”, wrote the senators.
A member of the FBI’s Evidence Response Team photographs the entrance to a home on Saturday, December 26, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee. An explosion that shook the deserted streets of downtown Nashville early on Christmas morning shattered windows, damaged buildings and injured three people. Authorities said they believed the explosion was intentional. (AP Photo / Mark Humphrey)
(AP Photo / Mark Humphrey)
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Nashville Mayor John Cooper declared a civil emergency in the blast area and implemented a curfew that continues until 4:30 pm Sunday.
Investigators are still looking for the reason for the explosion and have not ruled out a suicide attack. The explosives used were in a trailer parked on a downtown street, police said. A recorded message transmitted by the vehicle alerted people in the area to evacuation.
At a news conference late on Friday, police chief John Drake said tissues were found near the scene of the explosion that could have been human remains, but no deaths were reported at this time.
On Saturday, federal agents converged on the home of a possible “person of interest” in Antioch, a suburb of Nashville, while investigators combed through hundreds of clues and clues.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.