Tennessee Code Title 58. Military Affairs, Emergencies and Civil Defense § 58-2-109

(a) It is the intent of the general assembly and declared to be the policy of this state that funds to prepare for and meet emergencies shall always be available.

(b) It is the intent of the general assembly that the first recourse shall be to annually fund a state emergency management agency. If the governor finds that the demands placed upon these funds in coping with a particular disaster are unreasonably great, the governor may, as otherwise provided by law, make funds available by transferring and expending moneys appropriated for other purposes or out of any unappropriated surplus funds.

(c) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the governor to apply for, administer, and expend any grants, gifts, or payments in aid of emergency prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, or recovery.

(d) Whenever any person, firm, or corporation offers to the state or to any political subdivision thereof services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds by way of gift, grant, loan or other agreement for the purpose of emergency management, the state, acting through the agency, or such political subdivision, acting through its governing body or a local emergency management agency, may accept such offer. Upon such acceptance, the agency or the presiding officer of the governing body of the political subdivision may authorize receipt of the gift, grant, or loan on behalf of the state or such political subdivision, subject to the terms of the offer.