NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Individuals affected by the recent wildfires in Sevier County, Tennessee, are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as they may be eligible for disaster assistance.
Individuals who had losses in the wildfires in Sevier County can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other disaster-related serious needs, such as medical and dental expenses, funeral costs, or other necessary expenditures. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may also be available to homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.
Sevier County residents should register with FEMA even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but under-insured applicants may receive help after their insurance claims have been settled.
Registering with FEMA is required for federal aid, even if the person has registered with another disaster-relief organization.
Applicants will be asked for the following information:
Name as it appears on Social Security card
Social Security number
Address of the damaged home or apartment
Description of the damage
Information about insurance coverage
A current contact telephone number
A mailing address
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds.
Federal funding is also available to the state, eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work. Information on application procedures will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings, to be scheduled in the near future.
###
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
About the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency: TEMA’s mission is to coordinate preparedness, response and recovery from man-made, natural and technological hazards in a professional and efficient manner in concert with our stakeholders. Follow TEMA on Facebook, TNDisasterInfo, on Twitter, @T_E_M_A, and at www.tnema.org
###