Tennessee Storm Survivors Urged to Register With FEMA 

Release Date: March 27, 2012
Release Number: 4060-008

» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — According to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, nearly 600 survivors of the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred Feb. 29 – March 2 have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance.

To date, more than $461,000 in grants has been approved to help survivors pay for temporary housing and other needs as a result of damage they incurred. Many more survivors in the 10 disaster-designated counties may be eligible for benefits but may not be registering with FEMA in larger numbers for a variety of reasons:

Unfamiliar with the FEMA registration process – it’s as easy as a phone call or click.

• People with storm losses can register simply by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), which is video relay service accessible. Applicants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can use TTY 800-462-7585. Help is available in most languages and phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. Online registration is available at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or through a smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

Don’t know the full scope of available assistance.

• FEMA assistance can cover rental costs, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses.
• FEMA can refer survivors who do not need FEMA assistance, or who have additional needs, to partner agencies such as the U.S. Small Business Administration, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. FEMA also can refer survivors to groups and agencies who can help them with disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and legal aid.
• SBA low-interest disaster loans are available for homeowners, renters and businesses at affordable terms. Survivors offered an SBA low-interest loan are under no obligation to accept it. However, completing and returning the application may open the door to other forms of assistance such as additional FEMA grants.
• Survivors can obtain more information from the SBA website at www.sba.gov and learn how to apply on line or download an SBA application. Applicants with questions specific to SBA can also call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard of hearing) for assistance.

Think insurance will cover damages or are waiting for an insurance settlement.

• Homeowners and renters with insurance should fill out a FEMA application and SBA loan application while they are waiting for their insurance decision. It saves time.
• If insurance doesn’t cover all of their disaster-related expenses, FEMA and/or SBA assistance may be available to fill the gap.

Busy cleaning up debris, repairing homes; haven’t taken the time to register.

• Registering by phone or online can take as little as 15 to 30 minutes.

Think FEMA assistance could count against benefits received from other federal programs such as Social Security or Medicare.

• FEMA grants for housing and other needs assistance are NOT counted as income and DO NOT affect other benefits or eligibility for programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, welfare assistance, SNAP or Aid to Families with Dependent Children. FEMA grant money does not have to be repaid as long as it is properly spent for your disaster recovery.

Think they are ineligible for FEMA assistance due to income levels or too little damage.

• Income level does not affect possible FEMA assistance for homeowners; and let FEMA determine if the amount of damage qualifies for assistance. Survivors should not disqualify themselves by not registering.

Disaster Recovery Centers

If, after registering, survivors still have questions or need help registering, they can get face-to-face help by visiting any of the nine disaster recovery centers in Tennessee, which are staffed with recovery specialists from TEMA, FEMA, SBA and other agencies able to answer questions. Disaster recovery centers are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The following disaster recovery locations will remain open until 6 p.m., Monday, April 2:

DeKalb County
County Administrative Building
724 South Congress Blvd.
Smithville, TN 37166

Jackson County
Dodson Branch Community Center
16160 Dodson Branch Hwy.
Cookeville, TN 38501

Overton County
911 EMS Building
253 Industrial Park Dr.
Livingston, TN 38570

The following locations will remain open until further notice:

Bradley County
First Baptist Church Annex
340 Church St.
Cleveland, TN 37311

Claiborne County
Harrogate Volunteer Fire Department #2
132 Harrogate Crossing Rd.
Harrogate, TN 37752

Cumberland County
County Community Complex
1398 Livingston Rd.
Crossville, TN 38555

Hamilton County
Chattanooga Fire Department Station #7
6911 Discovery Dr.
Chattanooga, TN 37416

McMinn/Polk County
Etowah Rural Fire and Rescue
1018 Tennessee Ave.
Etowah, TN 37331

Monroe County
Tellico Plains Community Center
132 Bank St.
Tellico Plains, TN 37385

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 28-Mar-2012 09:33:50