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FEMA Administrator Fugate Travels Across Tennessee, meets with Governor, Local Officials and Residents

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate on Thursday, at the request of President Obama and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, took his second trip to Tennessee this week since last weekend’s severe weather led to massive flooding in the state.

Fugate, joined by Joe Becker, American Red Cross Senior Vice President for Disaster Services, first met Thursday with Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Bassham at the metro-Nashville Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Fugate toured the operations center and thanked all the staff for their hard work and dedication.

Fugate and Becker then traveled to Hadley Park Community Center in Nashville, along with Governor Bredesen. They were given a tour of the facilities that have become a center for donations and where flood survivors can come to seek advice and guidance on recovery efforts.

At the end of the tour, Fugate and the Governor recorded a short video message to let survivors know how to register for assistance with FEMA. They can call 1-800-621-FEMA, or log onto www.fema.gov, or on their web enabled mobile phone at m.fema.gov. That video can be seen here.

On Friday, Fugate began his day in the Memphis area, at the Shelby County Emergency Operations Center, where Shelby County Emergency Operations Director Bob Nations briefed the Administrator on the ongoing response and recovery efforts in Shelby County.

Fugate once again expressed his appreciation for all their dedication, explaining that often people think that “FEMA is the team”, but in reality "FEMA is only part of the team," and it was thanks to the work of the local first responders and emergency managers that this flooding event wasn’t worse.

Shelby County Emergency Management Director Bob Nations then led the FEMA Administrator on a tour of damaged neighborhoods in the Millington area, including a trailer park that had received large amounts of flooding. Fugate explained that after residents registered for assistance with FEMA, an inspector would come out to verify the damage. He also explained that’s why it’s critical when applying for assistance to give the address where you lived when the flooding happened – not necessary where you currently reside.

Fugate, thanks to the Tennessee National Guard, then took a helicopter tour of damaged areas, landing in Dyersburg, where he was greeted by local officials and emergency managers. They then toured flood damage, including homes, roads, and local businesses. Fugate explained that people often think of FEMA individual assistance as the only way to get help after a flood, but the Small Business Administration provides low-interest disaster loans for individuals and businesses as well.

Fugate then toured more flood damage from the air before stopping in Humbolt, where the flooding had not stopped the local Strawberry festival from taking place. Along with local officials and emergency managers, Fugate toured damage neighborhoods and met with local residents. The Administrator once again stressed the importance of registering with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

The Administrator finished the day taking a final aerial tour of flooding damage in western Tennessee. To see some of the photos the Administrator took on the tour, and for other information, you can follow him on twitter @craigatfema.

On Saturday, Fugate returned to the Nashville area, to brief Secretary Napolitano and Governor Bredesen about his travels and to join them for a walking tour of Nashville’s Bordeaux district which suffered major damage during last weekend’s flooding.

The group also toured the Bellevue Recreation Center, where “Hands On Nashville”—a local volunteer organization—is working to assist residents whose homes have been affected by flooding, including helping them request FEMA assistance. Other officials joined the tour including, Sen. Lamar Alexander, U.S. Representative Jim Cooper and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean.

Administrator Fugate and Secretary Napolitano also visited an American Red Cross blood drive hosted by the Tennessee Titans, which announced yesterday that they were joining the National Football League and the NFL Players Association in donating $400,000 to support flood relief efforts. Fugate and Napolitano thanked the Titans organization for their support in helping the region rebuild.

During his four days in Tennessee, including his first trip on Monday to meet with the Governor and receive his request for a Presidential disaster declaration, Administrator Fugate continued to stress that it was thanks to the preparation, hard work, and quick response of local first responders and emergency managers, and the general public that this historic flooding was not more devastating.

Once again, those affected by the disaster can register online at www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/femainfocus, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  FEMA does not endorse any non-government Web sites, companies or applications.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 11-Aug-2010 13:10:30 EDT