Lookout Mountain Eligible For Disaster Aid 

Release Date: June 7, 2003
Release Number: 1464-56

» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding

Nashville, TN -- Residents of Lookout Mountain became eligible today for an increased range of state and federal assistance when the town was reinstated in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The town suffered flooding damage during May's storms, but its residents were ineligible for many forms of help because in 1986 the town had opted out of the program. Floodplain maps were first prepared for Lookout Mountain that year.

"If a non-participating community is flooded, it has six months after the event in order to pass a floodplain ordinance and become eligible for assistance," said Michael Bolch, the officer in charge of the federal disaster recovery effort in Tennessee. "The community is not penalized for a decision that may have been made many years ago by other people."

"Now the town has passed a floodplain ordinance and submitted it to the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Bolch said. "Residents who suffered damage in May's disaster should register as soon as possible by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or 1-800-462-7585 (TDD) for the hearing or speech impaired. They can also buy flood insurance regardless of what flood zone their property is in."

Residents whose damaged property is in a special flood hazard area must buy flood insurance as a condition of receiving grants and most forms of assistance, such as low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Town and county officials have copies of the area's new Flood Insurance Rate Maps that took effect in 2002, and residents can check the maps to determine their property's status.

Bolch emphasized that a community is taking strong steps to protect its residents when it takes part in the NFIP, because in non-participating communities no funds are available for loans or grants to replace personal belongings or repair structures. Special flood hazard areas have been identified in more than 100 Tennessee communities that have chosen not to participate in the program or have not maintained necessary compliance with NFIP standards.

Now that Lookout Mountain is in the program, assistance available includes:

INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS PROGRAM: Housing assistance to individuals and households 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 people out of work due to the disaster, including self-employed persons, farm owners and others not usually covered under regular unemployment insurance.

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.

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

Last Modified: Monday, 09-Jun-2003 13:49:47