SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. --Survivors needing disaster assistance for damage from the Sevier County wildfires are encouraged to register soon. Time is running out.
Federal disaster assistance is available to eligible individuals and households and those who were working in or visiting Sevier County and were affected by the Nov. 28-Dec. 9 wildfires. The deadline to register for disaster assistance is Monday, Feb. 13.
Applying for disaster assistance is a two-step process that ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. First, register with FEMA. Second, complete and return the SBA loan application, if one is offered. There is no charge to apply for the loan and if approved, no obligation to accept it.
Disaster survivors may register with FEMA the following ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
- Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish).
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Help is available in most languages and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.
The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners, renters and private nonprofit organizations.
The filing deadline to return SBA loan applications for physical property damage is also Monday, Feb. 13. The deadline for businesses to submit loan applications for economic injury is Sept. 15, 2017.
For more information, call SBA’s disaster assistance customer service center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit sba.gov/disaster. TTY users can call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
For updates on Tennessee’s wildfire response and recovery, follow @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit TNEMA.org/, MountainTough.org/ and fema.gov/disaster/4293.
# # #
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.