FEMA helps disaster survivors begin recovery by providing grants for basic, critical needs. FEMA is working with Tennessee Emergency Management Agency to ensure those affected by the Dec. 9 tornadoes have a safe, accessible and functional place to stay. FEMA is not a substitute for insurance. Nor can it duplicate other sources of assistance.
What assistance does FEMA provide?
- Lodging Expense Reimbursement for hotel expenses; this is for uninsured or underinsured applicants who could not return to their home due to disaster-related damage. Keep copies of receipts.
- Home Repair/Replacement Assistance for disaster losses not already covered by another source.
- Rental Assistance for alternative housing if you can no longer occupy your primary residence due to disaster-related damage.
- Personal Property Assistance to repair or replace essential, uninsured personal property damaged by the disaster.
- Transportation Assistance for primary vehicles damaged by the disaster.
- Medical and Dental Assistance for uninsured medical and dental needs or losses caused by the disaster.
- Funeral Assistance related to a death attributed directly or indirectly as a result of the disaster.
How can I apply for FEMA assistance?
If you sustained damage or losses from the Dec. 9 tornadoes and live in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Gibson, Montgomery, Stewart or Sumner counties you may be eligible for financial assistance for temporary lodging, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other uninsured disaster-related expenses. Call toll-free 800-621-3362, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA App or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. The phone line is open daily, and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as VRS, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service. Deadline for applications is Feb. 12, 2024.
What can lead to an “ineligible” determination?
You may need to submit additional information. Often, an application is determined to be “ineligible” because of a missing document. Examples include:
- Proof of insurance coverage (declaration page)
- Copy of your insurance settlement
- Proof of identity (U.S. passport, military I.D., motor vehicle registration, Social Security card along with a federal or state I.D., a payroll stub that shows all or part of your Social Security number)
- Proof of occupancy (lease or rental agreement, rent receipts, utility bills, motor vehicle registration, etc. FEMA has provided more ways to meet this requirement.
- Proof of ownership (deed or title, mortgage documentation, homeowner’s insurance policy, property tax bill or receipt, manufactured home certificate or title and home purchase contracts. FEMA has provided more ways to meet this requirement.
- Proof the damaged property was your primary residence when the disaster occurred.
If you have questions about FEMA’s eligibility letter, you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center, go online to DisasterAssistance.gov or call the Disaster Assistance Helpline at 800-621-3362.
What does a FEMA inspector look for?
A FEMA inspection may be required to determine whether a home is safe, accessible and functional. FEMA considers the following factors when determining if an applicant is eligible for assistance:
- Is the exterior of the home structurally sound, including the doors, roof and windows?
- Do the electricity, gas, heat, plumbing, sewer and septic systems function properly?
- Is the inside of the house habitable and structurally sound, including the ceiling and floors?
- Is the home capable of being used for its intended purpose?
- Is there a safe access to and from the home?
In many cases, disaster-related damage may exist, yet the residents can still safely live in their home.
Why did my neighbor get more grant money than I received for repairs?
Each case is unique. There are several factors involved, including insurance status and the extent and type of damage documented.
I can’t rebuild my house with the money FEMA is offering me.
FEMA assistance is not the same as insurance. FEMA assistance provides funds for basic work to make a home safe and habitable. For example, FEMA may provide grants for you to replace or repair items such as toilets, critical utilities, windows, doors and roof, but not curtains or artwork.
I’m a renter. Do I qualify for FEMA assistance?
Renters whose property was destroyed or damaged by the disaster may be eligible to apply for federal assistance. FEMA grants can help pay for temporary housing. Renters may also qualify for grants to replace or repair necessary personal property, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, textbooks or school supplies; replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by the self-employed; primary vehicles; uninsured or out-of-pocket medical, dental, childcare, moving and storage expenses.
Can my household apply for FEMA assistance if I am not a U.S. citizen?
To qualify for FEMA assistance, you or a member of your household must be U.S. citizen, non-U.S. citizen national or qualified alien. However, undocumented families with diverse immigration status only need one family member (including a minor child) who is a United States citizen, non-U.S. citizen national, or qualified alien and has a Social Security number to apply. A qualified alien includes the following:
- Legal permanent resident (“green card” holder)
- An asylee, refugee, or an alien whose deportation is being withheld
- Alien paroled into the U.S. for at least one year
- Alien granted conditional entry (per law in effect prior to April 1, 1980)
- Cuban/Haitian entrant
- Certain aliens subjected to extreme cruelty or who have been a victim of a severe form of human trafficking, including persons with a “T” or “U” visa.
Adults who don’t qualify under one of the categories above, including the undocumented, can apply on behalf of a minor child who does qualify and has a Social Security number. A minor child must live with the parent or guardian applying on their behalf. The parent or guardian will not have to provide any information on their own immigration status or sign any documents regarding their status.
What happens if I disagree with FEMA’s decision?
Every applicant has the right to appeal a FEMA determination. For example, if you feel the amount or type of assistance is incorrect, you may submit an appeal letter and any documents needed to support your claim, such as a contractor’s estimate for home repairs.
FEMA cannot duplicate assistance provided to you by another source, such as insurance settlements or another program. However, if you are underinsured you may receive further assistance for unmet needs after insurance claims have been settled by submitting a copy of the insurance settlement or denial documents to FEMA.
How can I appeal?
You must file your appeal in writing to FEMA. In a signed and dated letter, you must explain the reason(s) for your appeal. Your appeal letter should also include:
- Your full name
- Disaster number (DR-4751)
- Address of the pre-disaster primary residence
- Your current phone number and address
- Your FEMA registration number on each page of your documentation
If someone other than you or a co-applicant is writing your letter, that person must sign the appeal letter, and you must provide FEMA with a signed statement authorizing the individual to act on your behalf.
Your letter must be postmarked within 60 days of the date on your eligibility letter. Appeal letters and supporting documents may be submitted to FEMA by mail or fax, or online if you have a FEMA online account. To set up a FEMA online account, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, click on “Apply Online” and follow the directions.
- By mail: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
- By fax: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA