Tennessee Disaster Survivors: Get The Facts About Disaster Assistance
Release Date: May 10, 2011
Release Number: 1974-006
» More Information on Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Associated Flooding
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Following a disaster, survivors sometimes hear inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information about disaster assistance. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency urge Tennesseans in the 10 counties affected by recent tornadoes, severe storms and flooding to get the facts now from TEMA and FEMA.
The counties designated for federal assistance due to the storms of April 25-28, 2011 are Bledsoe, Bradley, Cocke, Greene, Hamilton, Johnson, McMinn, Monroe, Rhea, and Washington.
“We don’t want anyone to miss out on available assistance because of wrong information,” said Jim Bassham, director of TEMA.
FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer W. Montague Winfield stressed that anyone with damages in the designated counties should apply for assistance. “The only way to ensure you get the help you are entitled to is to register with FEMA,” he said.
The best way to register for FEMA assistance is online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration number (800) 621-FEMA (3362), or for the hearing- or speech-impaired TTY (800) 462-7585. The registration lines are available daily from 7 a.m. to
10 p.m. local time. Recovery specialists offer help in most languages.
Here are some of the most common questions and misconceptions about assistance, with answers from TEMA and FEMA:
Do I need to go to a Disaster Recovery Center to register for state/FEMA assistance?
You may, but you are encouraged to register online or by calling FEMA directly. At the recovery center, you can obtain additional services, get help with your registration and, answers to specific questions, and check on the status of your registration. No money or checks are distributed at DRCs.
I reported my damages to my county emergency manager and/or to the Red Cross or other agency. Does that mean I’m registered with FEMA?
“No.” The only way to register with FEMA is online by calling FEMA’s toll-free registration number.
I received FEMA assistance after storms last year. Can I receive more assistance this year?
If you have damages from the recent storms, you may be eligible for new assistance.
There are people who need the help more than I do, so I’m not going to register.
You are not depriving anyone else of help by registering yourself. FEMA has sufficient funding to cover all eligible losses.
I have insurance. Should I still register for aid?
FEMA may be able to help you with disaster-related costs that your insurance does not cover. The only way to be eligible is to register with FEMA.
Representatives from TEMA and FEMA already looked at my property and asked me questions. Doesn’t that mean I'm registered?
You may have seen representatives of local, state or federal agencies during damage assessments. The only way to register for assistance from FEMA is online or by calling FEMA.
I’d like to apply for help from FEMA but I’m afraid it will affect my Social Security or other government benefits.
FEMA grants do not affect eligibility for any other benefit program or the amounts received from other programs. The grants are not reported to the IRS as income.
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.