Tips For Disaster Applicants
Release Date: November 18, 2002
Release Number: 1441-01
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
Nashville, TN -- If your family or business sustained losses in the recent Tennessee tornadoes, federal and state assistance may be available to help you recover. Here are some suggestions for expediting that assistance.
- The first step in receiving state/federal help is to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by calling the toll-free 1-800-621-3362. This will enter you into the database of those requesting disaster assistance. Those who are speech or hearing impaired may use the toll-free TDD number: 1-800-462-7585. The only way to receive state/federal assistance is to register.
- You will be asked to provide your name, social security number and the address and ZIP code of the damaged property, and a day-time telephone number. It is also helpful, but not necessary, to have your gross income and casualty insurance information available.
- Your damage will be inspected. Give FEMA a telephone number where you can be reached and ensure that your street address is prominently displayed. Arrange to be at home for the inspection; missing an inspection will delay getting help. {Call the 1-800-621-3362 operators and let them know if your day-time phone number changes.}
- You should register even if your losses are covered by insurance. This protects your request for assistance in the event hidden damage is discovered later. Damage must be disaster-related and have occurred between November 9 thru 12 in a declared county.
- Your home or business structure doesn't have to be damaged by the disaster for you to receive assistance. Financial help is available if you lost transportation or other uninsured essential personal property.
- Renters, as well as property owners, forced from their homes by disaster damage may apply for rental assistance to relocate temporarily while repairs are made.
- When you register you will be told whether or not you must complete a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan application in order to receive assistance. However, you do not have to qualify for a SBA loan to receive assistance.
- State and federal assistance is designed to help disaster victims with long-term recovery needs. Neither state nor federal assistance is intended to fully restore a family to its pre-disaster condition.
President Bush declared these Tennessee counties as major disaster areas on November 13, 2002: Anderson, Bedford, Carroll, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Gibson, Henderson, Madison, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan, Rutherford, Scott, Sumner and Tipton.
Last Modified: Monday, 21-Apr-2003 12:37:39