More Tennessee Counties To Get Disaster Aid 

Release Date: June 10, 2003
Release Number: 1464-57

» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

Nashville, TN -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made four more Tennessee counties eligible for individual assistance today and added five to the list of those entitled to public assistance.

Residents of Blount, Cocke, Jefferson and Sevier counties were declared eligible for assistance to families and individuals. Campbell, Macon, Morgan, Sumner and White counties were declared eligible for public assistance.

Macon, Morgan and Sumner counties were already eligible for individual assistance. Cocke County was already eligible for public assistance.

The additions make 73 of Tennessee's 95 counties declared disaster areas due to the tornadoes, floods and severe storms of May 4 through May 30. The additions followed continuing damage assessments by federal and state disaster officials.

Assistance to individuals and families is now available in 69 counties, and local governments and local agencies in 56 counties are eligible to apply for financial help in restoring damaged infrastructure and supporting budgets stretched by disaster spending.

As soon as possible, residents of the new counties who have uninsured property damage should register with FEMA for federal and state aid by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The TDD number for those with speech or hearing impairment is 1-800-462-7585. The registration deadline is July 7, sixty days after the initial federal disaster declaration.

Individual assistance programs include temporary housing and home repair, disaster unemployment assistance, grants for essential needs not met by other programs and U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged property. Callers are advised to have the following information available to register:

DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM INFORMATION

When disaster strikes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers a number of disaster assistance programs and coordinates the efforts of many other federal agencies that provide services to help people through the recovery process. The types of assistance that are available follow.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Programs

INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS PROGRAM: Housing assistance to individuals and families whose permanent homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm. Types of aid include grants for temporary housing and emergency repairs needed to make a residence habitable.

OTHER NEEDS ASSISTANCE: Grants to individuals and families to meet serious disaster-related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance or other federal, state or voluntary agency disaster assistance programs.

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: Weekly benefits to individuals out of work due to the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners and others not usually covered under regular unemployment insurance.

U.S. Small Business Administration Programs

HOME/PERSONAL PROPERTY DISASTER LOANS: Low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters for restoring or replacing underinsured or uninsured disaster-damaged real and personal property. (Available in declared counties.)

BUSINESS DISASTER LOANS: Disaster loans to repair or replace destroyed or damaged business facilities, inventory, machinery, equipment, etc. not covered by insurance. (Available to large and small businesses in declared counties.) Loans also may be available to small businesses for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period. (Available in declared and contiguous counties.)

Last Modified: Wednesday, 11-Jun-2003 09:06:09