Release Date:
5월 3, 2023
As eligible Tennessee homeowners and renters begin receiving disaster funds from FEMA for rental assistance, home repairs or other categories of assistance, it is important to keep track of your spending. Use the money for the specified reason stated in your FEMA letter.
Helpful Tips
- Approved applicants in Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton and Wayne counties will receive a letter from FEMA. It will provide information about the types of assistance you are eligible to receive and the amount of assistance FEMA is providing for each eligible need.
- Types of assistance may include home repairs (e.g., structure, water well, septic and sewage systems). Homeowners approved for FEMA’s Home Repair Assistance may receive additional mitigation funding for your owner-occupied primary residences to help you rebuild stronger. Mitigation funding addresses roof repair to withstand higher winds and help prevent water seeping in. Other types of assistance may include:
- Rental assistance for a different place to live temporarily
- Repair or replacement of a damaged primary vehicle
- Uninsured out-of-pocket medical expenses for an injury caused by the disaster
- Reimbursement for increased childcare expenses
- Repair or replacement of specialized occupational tools and essential educational materials (e.g., computers, schoolbooks, supplies)
- Moving and storage expenses related to the tornadoes and other disaster-related expenses
- You may spend your Home Repair grant from FEMA in ways that help make your home safe, accessible and functional. Remember to document how you used the disaster funds and keep all receipts for at least three years for verification of how you spent the money.
- Disaster grants are not for regular living expenses such as utilities, food, medical or dental bills, travel, entertainment, or any discretionary expenses not directly related to the disaster.
- Federal disaster assistance funds are tax-free.
To Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance
- The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Tuesday, June 6. Here’s how to apply:
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
- Use the FEMA mobile app
- Call the Disaster Assistance Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply. Helpline operators speak many languages and lines are open from 6 a.m. to midnight Central Daylight Time daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
- For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI&list=PL720Kw_OojlKOhtKG7HM_0n_kEawus6FC&index=6
- You may also visit any Disaster Recovery Center to get help with your application. Find a center here: https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator
For the latest information on Tennessee’s recovery from the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4701. You may also follow TN.gov/TEMA; Twitter.com/TEMA, Facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo, @FEMARegion4/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.