In a meeting with the Business owners who were affected by the Great flood of 2010, Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper outlined how the City of Clarksville plans to help them recover from this natural disaster. Part of that assistance came from Governor Phil Bredesen and the Federal Emergency Management agency with the announcement that Montgomery County Tennessee is one of six Tennessee counties that were declared a Federal Disaster Area by President Barack Obama.
This declaration will free up federal “Disaster Assistance funds” to help the city, businesses, and individuals deal with the expense of reconstruction and recovery including Disaster assistance available from FEMA, Disaster loans available from the Small Business Administration, and Disaster assistance available from other organizations and agencies.
Disaster assistance is money or direct assistance to individuals, families and businesses in an area whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance. It is meant to help you with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways. This assistance is not intended to restore your damaged property to its condition before the disaster, only to restore it to a livable condition once again.
While some housing assistance funds are available through FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program, most disaster assistance from the Federal government is in the form of loans administered by the Small Business Administration.
Montgomery County recommends that you call Emergency Operation Center to report all property damage, as providing FEMA with documentation of the damage you suffered is crucial, and the more documentation you can provide the better (Photos, lists, etc). The number to call is 931-553-5162.
You can also contact Clarksville Online to see if we have any photos of property located along Riverside Drive or Kraft Street. If we have photos of your business in our archives, we will be glad to provide them to you.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families
Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s major disaster declaration issued for Tennessee.
Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
- Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
- Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
- Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
- Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans benefits and social security matters.
How to Apply for Assistance:
Those in the counties designated for assistance to affected residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers are available from 7:00 am to 10 pm (local time). Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.
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.
Volunteering
The City of Clarksville is counting on area volunteers to help with the cleanup process both for the city, and local business businesses. Over 200 people have already volunteered to help out, but they need many more. They are also accepting donations of supplies, clothing, and other items that will be needed in the clean-up. If you are interested in helping out or making a donation, contact the Deborah Grubbs at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Action Agency at 931-648-5774 ext 103 to be added to the list of volunteers.
Property Inspections
Inspections are not required to re-enter the property, but the city is strongly recommending that you have one done. To facilitate this the City of Clarksville is planning to offer free inspections of your property. Contact the Building & Codes Department to schedule your inspection at (931) 645-7426 for the following:
Residential inspections: We will begin residential assessment inspections of all affected basements/garages, and living areas on Wednesday, May 5th, 2010 from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 P.M., and Thursday, May 6, 2010 through Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Commercial inspections: We will begin commercial assessment inspections on Friday, May 7, 2010 and Saturday, May 8, 2010, 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. and Monday, May 10, 2010, 8:00 – 5:00 P.M.
The owner and/or occupant must be on-site at the time of scheduled appointment to meet with the inspector(s). Inspector(s) will provide proper City I.D./credentials.
Natural Gas Service
Natural gas service was cut off by the Clarksville Gas & Water Department from New Providence Boulevard to N. 2nd Street and on Kraft Street from N. 2nd Street to Robb Avenue. They did this to prevent a gas leak and potential explosive situations as pilot lights were extinguished by the rising waters. They are required to change out regulators, inspect meters, and if the feed lines were submerged they will have to be inspected before it can be turned back on. Contact the Gas & Water Department at (931) 645-7400 to make the necessary arrangements.
City to provide flood debris pickup
Business owners can place debris removed from their businesses on their property near the street for pickup by the Street Department. The City of Clarksville will pick these up at no cost to the owners. You must contact the Street Department at (931) 645-7464. Bi-County Waste will also look at providing dumpsters. Contact them at (931) 648-5751.
Curfew
The City of Clarksville still has a curfew in affect from 8:00 pm – 6:00 am, but it has been modified to enhance clarification and intent. The curfew only applies to those areas which were affected by the flood water such as: Riverside Drive, the Downtown District, Southern Parkway, North Woodstock, etc.
Business operating hours and patrons’ participation are not dictated under the curfew’s provisions. But, access in the affected flood areas will be closely scrutinized between 8 pm-6 am to ensure those in the area are there for a legitimate purpose and are not placing themselves in harm’s way.
Montgomery County also is operating under a curfew as well. As a matter of citizen safety there is a county wide curfew from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am. There are many unsafe conditions that continue to evolve and this is an effort to keep citizens out of harm’s way. This will also ease the traffic allowing emergency workers to continue their response. Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for your cooperation. The curfew applies to those areas which are affected by flood water. These areas include, but are not limited to Riverside Drive, Southern Parkway, the downtown business area, North Woodstock, Palmyra Road, and other areas adjacent to the Cumberland and Red Rivers.
Contractors
The City of Clarksville would like to advise business owners to use only licensed and bonded contractors. Also never pay in full in advance. While you might have to pay a small deposit the majority of the fee should be due only upon completion.
Video
Clarksville holds special meeting for flood affected business owners
Part 1
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Part 2
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