ATLANTA, Va. — Members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) team are in the field meeting with people affected by the Tennessee storms and flooding that started April 30 and legitimate FEMA staff won’t ask for personal information, such as a Social Security number, or request payment at the time of the inspection.
State and FEMA teams are canvassing communities in Cheatham, Davidson, Dyer, Hickman, McNairy, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Tipton and Williamson counties, offering individuals and small business owners information about available disaster assistance programs.
These programs include grants to help pay rent for temporary disaster housing; grants for essential repairs needed to restore houses that are not safe and functional; low-interest loans to repair or replace damaged property; and replacement grants for serious disaster-related needs and expenses not covered by insurance or other assistance programs.
After registering with FEMA by going online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585), a person with disaster-related losses will be contacted by a FEMA inspector.
Both FEMA community relations and FEMA–contracted housing inspectors wear official FEMA identification. When either staff call or visit, they will not ask for personal information including Social Security numbers. Authorized inspectors will not ask for these details and will not approach an applicant without prior contact. And authorized inspectors will never ask for payment—in any form.
The U.S. Small Business Administration and various insurance companies also have inspectors in the field.
FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.
Tennesseans Affected By Severe Spring Storms And Flooding Can Apply For Disaster Assistance
People in 10 Tennessee counties – Cheatham, Davidson, Dyer, Hickman, McNairy, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Tipton and Williamson – are now eligible for help from the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as they recover from severe spring storms, tornadoes and flooding that struck Tennessee beginning April 30.
Anyone who experienced damages in any of the designated counties may complete an online application at www.disasterassistance.gov or apply by phone by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for the hearing or speech-impaired. The toll-free numbers are available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (CDT) until further notice. Help in other languages is available.
State and federal disaster officials say those who have losses from the floods should apply as soon as possible and they do not have to wait for an insurance inspection to begin the registration process. Officials say they are working side-by-side with the state to move quickly to assist Tennesseans in their recovery efforts.
Filing damage reports with state or county emergency managers or voluntary agencies will not start the federal disaster assistance process. You must register to start the process.
When applying for help, be sure to have the following information available:
- Your current telephone number.
- Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you now are staying.
- Your Social Security number, if available.
- A general list of damages and losses you suffered.
- If insured, the name of your company or agent and your policy number.
- Bank account coding if you wish to speed up your assistance by using direct deposit.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and 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.
