Residents of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties have until July 7 to apply for FEMA disaster assistance if they had losses from the storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred March 25 through April 3.
KEY MESSAGES
- Apply to FEMA: Tennessee storm survivors are encouraged to apply to FEMA if they have uninsured losses or damage from the storms. The federal government cannot restore everything you may have lost. But you may be able to recover faster with money from FEMA to help cover costs for basic repairs to make your home safe, accessible and secure.
- Helpline: Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). It is your go to resource for answers to questions about your application or to update FEMA on your current housing situation. Lines are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time. If you use a relay service, such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel, update FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service.
- Multi-Agency Recovery Center: The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has opened a Multi-Agency Recovery Center in Davidson County to help residents impacted from the March 2021 flooding find recovery assistance and resources. Representatives from FEMA, TEMA, U.S. Small Business Administration, and local agencies will be available to help individuals understand various disaster assistance programs, apply for disaster assistance, and find other programs that may offer recovery help. Survivors have until end of day, June 6 to visit the center. Location and hours are below:
Davidson County
- Plaza Mariachi (Live Music Venue)
3955 Nolensville Pike, Nashville, TN 37211 - Hours of Operation:
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon. through Fri.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. and Sun.
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mon. through Fri.
Last day of operation will be COB Sun. June 6
- Remote Inspections: To protect the safety and health of disaster survivors and FEMA workers, the agency is conducting remote inspections of homes reported to be severely damaged by the storms. Remote inspections are conducted by telephone or internet streaming service. These inspections are comparable to traditional, in-person assessments.
- Rental Assistance Available: Residents of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties whose homes were made unsafe or uninhabitable by the storms may be eligible for temporary rental assistance from FEMA.
- Rental assistance may be used to lease a house, apartment or manufactured home. It does not have to be repaid.
- To be considered for temporary rental assistance, homeowners and renters must have been displaced from their primary residence because it became uninhabitable due to storm damage.
- SBA Loans: After a disaster, some survivors find that a FEMA grant and their insurance settlement, if they are insured, do not give them all the funds they need to restore their home to its pre-disaster condition. Low interest, long-term disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration help homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and some nonprofit organizations recover. FEMA may refer assistance applicants to SBA. Submitting an SBA loan application is a necessary step to being considered for other forms of disaster assistance.
- Free legal help for eligible storm survivors is available from Tennessee Disaster Legal Services. Call 888-395-9297 if you have questions about issues related to the recent storms and floods. Attorneys may be able to help with FEMA and other government benefits; insurance claims for life, medical, property, etc.; consumer protection matters related to home repair or rebuilding; landlord/tenant problems or replacement of important legal documents. Leave a voice mail and an attorney will return your call.
- Disaster unemployment insurance is available for those who lost work due to the storms and are not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits, such as those who are self-employed. Survivors who became unemployed as a result of the disaster should visit Jobs4TN to file for unemployment as soon as possible.
- Beware of Fraud: After a disaster, scam artists, identity thieves and other criminals sometimes try to take advantage of disaster survivors. Federal and Tennessee emergency management officials urge residents to watch for and report any suspicious activity such as people pretending to be FEMA employees. All FEMA representatives carry a laminated badge and have your FEMA registration number.
FEMA’s Individuals & Households Program, as of May 31, 2021
Housing Assistance: $727,760
Rental Assistance: $399,154
Other Needs Assistance: $59,134
Total $ Approved Individuals & Households Program: $786,894
To apply for FEMA disaster assistance: (Deadline Wednesday, July 7)
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
- Download the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet
- Call the FEMA Helpline -800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Lines are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time. If you use a relay service, such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel, update FEMA with the specific number assigned to that service.
- FEMA needs the following information to complete your application:
- A current phone number where you can be reached;
- Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying;
- Your Social Security number;
- A general list of damage and losses; and
- If insured, the insurance policy number, or the agent and company name.
U.S. Small Business Administration, as May 31, 2021
Total Loans Approved: 34
Total $ Approved: $1.1 million
- You may apply for a disaster loan online using SBA’s secure website at https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/. Email FOCE-Help@SBA.gov to set up a phone appointment for assistance with your disaster loan application.
- You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. The center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time, seven days a week. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339.
For more information on Tennessee’s disaster recovery, visit www.tn.gov/tema.html and www.fema.gov/disaster/4601. You may also follow FEMA on www.facebook.com/fema and Twitter @FEMARegion4.