Release Date: January 29, 1999
Release Number: 1262-02
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and High Winds
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- State and federal disaster management officials will open Disaster Recovery Centers in Jackson and Clarksville Monday in order to answer questions and expedite information about assistance available to residents who suffered losses in recent tornado strikes.
The centers will be staffed by representatives of state, federal and voluntary agencies who know assistance programs and can provide guidance to applicants seeking aid. Registration for assistance must be made by telephone, however, said Paul Fay, Jr., the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official coordinating federal recovery efforts in the disaster area.
The Jackson center will be located at the Jackson Civic Center, 400 S. Highland St., Jackson, 38301-6814. The Clarksville center will be located in the Burt Cobb Civic Center, 1011 Franklin St., Clarksville, 37040. Hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday until further notice. Both centers will be closed on Sunday.
The teleregistration toll-free number is 1-800-462-9029 (for those with hearing or speech impediments, 1-800-462-7585). To date more than 1,330 have sought some type of assistance as a result of the tornadoes that raked 14 counties less than two weeks ago.
"If you have questions about services that are available, you are encouraged to come to one of the disaster recovery centers," said John White, Jr., director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA). "The recovery centers will do much in providing answers and directions for persons victimized by the severe weather," he added.
Information concerning the programs available to eligible applicants include disaster housing assistance, low-interest U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for homeowners, renters and businesses, FEMA grants for those with insufficient insurance coverage and who are unable to get a loan, and technical advice on strategies to minimize losses in future disasters.
Last Modified: Thursday, 18-Dec-2003 13:18:39