Residents Of Fayette And Shelby Counties Urged To Apply For FEMA-State Disaster Aid
Release Date: August 7, 2003
Release Number: 1482-11
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, High Winds, and Heavy Rain
Nashville, TN -- Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials encourage residents of Fayette and Shelby counties who suffered damage or losses from the July 21st and 22nd severe storms, high winds and heavy rain to apply for disaster assistance as soon as possible.
To apply, simply call FEMA's toll-free application number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for persons with speech or hearing impairments
On July 29th, President Bush declared Shelby County eligible for federal disaster aid to help individuals, families and businesses recover from the effects of the July severe weather. Additionally, Shelby and Fayette counties were declared eligible to receive 75 percent reimbursement of certain costs for repairing or replacing public facilities damaged by the storms. Federal funding also will be available to the state on a cost-shared basis for approved projects that reduce future disaster risks.
On August 6th, the major disaster declaration was amended to expand Fayette County's eligibility to include disaster assistance for individuals, families and businesses.
FEMA's Federal Coordinating Officer for the recovery operation, Charles M. Butler, urged everyone in Shelby and Fayette counties who suffered disaster-related damage to apply immediately. He said, "The process of recovering from this disaster begins when you call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), FEMA's toll-free application number. Operators are available to assist applicants every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, until further notice."
The various programs and services offered by FEMA and TEMA include financial assistance to pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses. Low-interest disaster loans are available from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is also available to workers in Fayette and Shelby counties whose unemployment is a direct result of the July 21-22 severe storms. Workers who feel they may be eligible for benefits should go immediately to their local Labor and Workforce Development office to register for DUA.
Tennessee State Coordinating Officer for recovery, James H. Bassham, emphasized, "Tennesseans who had damage from the July 21-22 severe storms, high winds and heavy rain should immediately call FEMA's application number to apply for assistance."
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Thursday, 07-Aug-2003 16:16:03