Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker will tour storm-damaged areas in McMinn and Polk counties this afternoon, following a visit to fire-ravaged Gatlinburg.
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has confirmed severe weather has affected eight counties and confirmed five tornadoes touched down, including an EF3 tornado which claimed two lives in Polk County's Ocoee community. The agency said Thursday evening two other storm related deaths occurred in Meigs County.
So far, 13 wildfire deaths have been counted.
On Thursday, the governor declared a state of emergency as part of an executive order suspending certain state laws to speed up survivors' access to health care and other services. The state of emergency lasts until January 30 and makes it unlawful for businesses and individuals to gouge prices for food, medicine, construction and other necessities.
"The citizens affected by the wildfires and severe storms have already been through so much, we want to make it easier for them to receive the care and services they need as they begin to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives," Haslam said.
The final dollar figure on storm damage has not been fully determined.
"I know several counties are still conducting damage assessments and I am not sure when we will receive them," TEMA spokesman Dean Flener said in an email Thursday.