Disaster Aid to Tennesseans Tops $2.7 Million
Release Date: February 29, 2008
Release Number: 1745-013
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- More than $2.7 million in disaster grants and loans for individuals in Tennessee has been approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
The assistance follows President Bush's Feb. 7 disaster declaration as a result of the Feb. 5-6 severe storms and tornadoes.
Following is a breakdown of assistance through Saturday:
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$1,911,324 has been approved through FEMA's Individuals and Households Program for housing assistance, including rental assistance and repairs to homes for eligible applicants. Of that, $1,446,293 is for Housing Assistance and $465,031 to help applicants cover other essential disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, lost personal possessions, funeral costs and transportation.
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$847,000 in loans to homeowners and renters has been approved by SBA.
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3,746 households have registered with FEMA for some form of disaster assistance.
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2,155 residents have visited Disaster Recovery Centers operated jointly operated by FEMA and the State of Tennessee.
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1,702 home inspections have been completed.
- 16 counties are designated for federal disaster assistance.
- 13 counties are eligible for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance: Benton, Fayette, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Perry, Shelby, Sumner, Trousdale and Williamson.
- 2 counties are eligible for Public Assistance only: Haywood and McNairy.
- 1 county is eligible for Individual Assistance only: Montgomery.
Community Relations specialists have distributed 10,000 flyers and worked in the counties to help identify and assist disaster survivors. They have met with:
- 1,847 residents including 11 with special needs;
- 116 businesses;
- 83 faith-based groups;
- 38 community organizations;
- 20 social service organizations; and
- 12 schools.
Individuals can apply for FEMA assistance by calling (800) 621-FEMA (3362), TTY (800) 462-7585 or online at www.fema.gov.
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, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 29-Feb-2008 08:19:50