More Than $2.2 Million In Disaster Aid Approved Thus Far For Tennesseans; 8,868 Have Applied For Assistance
Release Date: August 8, 2003
Release Number: 1482-12
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, High Winds, and Heavy Rain
Nashville, TN - A total of $2,289,260 in federal and state disaster aid has been approved thus far for Fayette and Shelby County residents who were affected by the July 21st and 22nd, 2003 severe storms, high winds and heavy rain. President Bush, at the request of Gov. Phil Bredesen, made the disaster declaration on July 29.
According to Charles M. Butler, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official in charge of the recovery effort, as of today, 8,868 Fayette and Shelby County residents have applied for the various forms of federal and state disaster assistance. Anyone who suffered severe storm, high wind or heavy rain damage during the July severe weather should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) to apply for assistance. The speech or hearing impaired should call TTY 1-800-462-7585.
The following is a breakdown of the more than $2.2 million in federal and state disaster aid approved for Fayette and Shelby counties:
- Individuals & Households Program (IHP) - $1,960,160
FEMA's IHP may provide housing assistance in the form of temporary housing or housing repair assistance to repair disaster-related damage not covered by insurance. Assistance may also be provided to cover uninsured or underinsured disaster-related expenses and serious needs, such as medical and dental expenses, funeral and/or other burial services, transportation, clean-up equipment, moving and storage expenses, room furnishings and appliances, and other serious needs.
- U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) - $329,100
The U. S. Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and businesses for restoring or replacing uninsured or underinsured damage-related property. Businesses may also be eligible for disaster loans to repair or replace inventory, machinery and equipment not covered by insurance, as well as for working capital to assist them during the disaster recovery period.
Tennessee's coordinating officer for disaster recovery, James H. Bassham, said, "The availability of these funds marks the starting point for our rebuilding process. Many residents of Fayette and Shelby County suffered from the impact of these storms, and we appreciate the quick response to our request for federal assistance. The number of applications received so far is a clear indication of the severity of the storms."
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: Friday, 08-Aug-2003 13:26:27