FEMA Disaster Assistance Tops $100 Million in First Two Weeks

NASHVILLE – More than $100 million in federal assistance has been approved for the survivors of Tennessee’s record-setting storms and flooding, just two weeks after President Obama declared a federal disaster.

The amount includes $90.7 million in housing aid, such for rental assistance and home repairs, and $9.5 million for other needs such as personal property.

Nearly $640,000 in loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration has been approved.

More than 34,300 people in the 42 designated counties have registered with FEMA for Individual Assistance.

Some 2,600 people have visited one of 14 state and federal Disaster Recovery Centers for assistance from recovery specialists.

Teams of community relations specialists have provided information to more than 14,000 flood survivors and have visited more than 300 faith-based organizations, 200 community based organizations and 500 business.

Individuals can register with FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov anytime or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. The toll-free numbers are staffed seven days a week, 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. until further notice. Help in all languages is available. Before applying for an SBA loan, you must register with FEMA.

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.