Tennessee Tornado Recovery Update
Release Date: May 5, 2006
Release Number: 1634-051
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms and Tornadoes
JACKSON, Tenn. -- After two tornado outbreaks savaged parts of 15 Tennessee counties, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to work with state and local agencies in Tennessee to assist victims of April's tornadoes and severe storms.
To date, 1,766 Tennesseans have registered for disaster assistance, and FEMA has disbursed $1,169,500.13 in federal grants through its Individuals and Households (IHP) programs.
Of the federal funds distributed by FEMA in Tennessee , $654,806.52 has gone to applicants for rental assistance, and for housing repairs not covered by insurance.
The remaining $514,693.61 has been disbursed for Other Needs Assistance which includes medical and funeral expenses, replacement of personal possessions and other uninsured losses.
To date, 1,226 storm victims have visited Disaster Recovery Centers where they received help from experts in disaster recovery. The centers are scheduled to close today (May 5) but help is still available to applicants on the FEMA help line at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362 ), or the TTY line for the speech or hearing impaired, 1-800-462-7585.
Free crisis counseling is available to Tennesseans who may be suffering stress, anxiety or depression as a result of the storms. Registration for FEMA disaster assistance is not required to benefit from this program. Referrals for counseling services are available via telephone at the FEMA help line 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), the TTY line at 1-800-462-7585 for the speech or hearing impaired, at disaster recovery centers or directly from the State of Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities crisis center help line: 1-800-809-9957 .
Free disaster legal assistance also is offered to storm victims through an arrangement with the Young Lawyers Division of the Tennessee Bar Association. For help with disaster-related legal issues, call the Tennessee Bar Association, 1-866-336-8276 . The speech or hearing impaired may call FEMA's TTY line 1-800-462-7585 .
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has a customer service center open in Trenton and will open another in Gallatin Monday. The Trenton center is in the old Health Center at 200 East Eaton Street . The Gallatin center opens Monday, May 8, at the city Public Utility Building , 239 Hancock Street . Both facilities will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice. The SBA also offers assistance, toll-free, at 1-800-659-2955.
Tennesseans have until June 5 to register for disaster assistance at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) , at 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the speech and hearing-impaired, or on the FEMA Web site, www.fema.gov/assistance/.
FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 05-May-2006 15:42:11