Community Relations Teams To Help Storm Victims
Release Date: April 20, 2006
Release Number: 1634-025
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms and Tornadoes
JACKSON, Tenn. -- Teams of state-federal community relations specialists are being deployed to 15 Tennessee counties that were hit by the recent series of tornadoes. These teams will deliver information about disaster assistance to businesses, homeowners and renters who suffered losses due to the tornadoes and severe storms that hit the state on April 2 and April 7.
Louis Friedmann, the deputy state coordinating officer for this disaster, said emergency management officials will direct the teams to identified areas of need. We will be going door to door to spread the word that help is available with unmet needs arising from the disaster, Friedmann said. He added that the teams would remain in the declared counties as long as they are needed.
Residents of Benton, Cannon, Carroll, Cheatham, Cumberland, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Haywood, Maury, Sumner, Warren and Weakley counties may now register for disaster assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the speech or hearing impaired.
Michael Karl, the official in charge of federal recovery operations, said the community relations teams are an important part of FEMA's effort to reach out to the affected communities and make sure that those who need help know how to get it. The teams work on a face-to-face basis with citizens at every level in the local community, said Karl, including government, business, religious and volunteer organizations.
President Bush's federal disaster declaration makes a wide range of state and federal financial assistance and other services available to disaster victims. These programs are designed to help families recover from storm damage and losses that are not covered by their own insurance.
Last Modified: Thursday, 20-Apr-2006 15:45:45