Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-1745)

Updates and Articles, Blogs, and News Releases

February 8, 2008

News Release

FEMA Assisting Tennessee Communities Recover From Tornadoes

ATLANTA, Ga. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says people in Tennessee who were affected by this week's severe weather can now get federal help. President Bush approved a major disaster declaration for five Tennessee counties: Macon, Madison, Hardin, Shelby and Sumner counties.

February 8, 2008

News Release

Federal Aid Programs for Tennessee Disaster Recovery

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Bush's major disaster declaration. Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

Pages

Financial Assistance to Help Families and Communities Recover

Individual Assistance
Public Assistance
Definitions

Individual Assistance Definitions

Individuals & Household Program (IHP): Provides money and services to people in Presidentially declared disaster areas.

Housing Assistance (HA): Provides assistance for disaster-related housing needs.

Other Needs Assistance (ONA): Provides assistance for other disaster-related needs, such as furnishings, transportation, and medical.

Public Assistance Definitions

Public Assistance (PA): Disaster grant assistance available for communities to quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President

Emergency Work (Categories A-B): Work that must be performed to reduce or eliminate an immediate threat to life, protect public health and safety, and to protect improved property that is significantly threatened due to disasters or emergencies declared by the President

Permanent Work (Categories C-G): Work that is required to restore a damaged facility, through repair or restoration, to its pre-disaster design, function, and capacity in accordance with applicable codes and standards

*Dollars Approved: Assistance dollars approved but not necessarily disbursed.

*Dollars Obligated: Funds made available to the State via electronic transfer following FEMA's final review and approval of Public Assistance projects.