NASHVILLE (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a grant of nearly $1.2 million for the state of Tennessee to help the city of Mt. Juliet with costs of removing debris after the March tornadoes.

FEMA said Tuesday that the funds will reimburse the city for the cost of removing more than 114,000 cubic yards (87,150 cubic meters) of debris from public roads, property and rights-of-way after the storm.

Strong storms that produced tornadoes tore through Middle Tennessee on March 3. The storms killed 25 people and damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings.

FEMA's Public Assistance program provides grants to help communities recover from major disasters or emergencies, the agency said in a news release.

In a statement, Tennessee Emergency Management Director Patrick Sheehan said tornado debris hampered access for first responders and made recovery operations and resumption of life difficult for several weeks for people in Wilson County.