Obama signs disaster declaration for Gatlinburg and Sevier County, Tenn.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama signed a disaster declaration for Gatlinburg, Tenn., and surrounding Sevier County after wildfires destroyed much of the community.

The order Thursday allows federal disbursement of funds for recovery efforts to residents and business owners who sustained losses, estimated at $500 million, in fires from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9. The fires killed 14 people and destroyed or damaged over 2,400 structures.

The funding will go to grants for temporary housing, low-cost loans to repair property and other recovery projects, the White House announced. Additional federal funds will fund emergency work by state and local governments, as well as by some nonprofit organizations.

"This deadly wildfire required a coordinated response from many individuals and organizations. The outpouring of care, relief and support from around the world for Sevier County and its people has been extraordinary. This assistance from the federal government will help relieve some of the financial burden of this disaster on Tennesseans and Sevier County," Gov. Bill Halsam, R-Tenn., said in a statement.

Halsam's original request for federal help included nearby Coffee, McMinn, Polk and Saquatchie counties, which were struck by storms and tornadoes that accelerated the wildfires. The disaster declaration did not include those counties but the Federal Emergency Management agency said they are still under consideration for funding.

"Nothing has been declined," said FEMA spokeswoman Mary Hudak, "Those are still under consideration, and we're still gathering additional information so we can make a determination on those counties."