NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Homeowners and renters in Dickson, Hickman, Houston and Humphreys counties with uninsured damage or losses from the Aug. 21 severe storms and flooding have until Oct. 25, 2021 to apply to FEMA for federal disaster assistance and to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low-interest disaster loans.
So far, FEMA provided over $6.4 million to 3,803 applicants in the designated counties. This includes $4.8 million for housing repair and replacement and $1.6 million for other needs, such as coverage for damaged personal property and other disaster-related expenses. The U.S. Small Business Administration approved $8.8 million low-interest disaster loans to individuals and families to repair their homes as well as to businesses.
After registering with FEMA, many residents are automatically referred to SBA to apply for a low-interest disaster loan. SBA’s disaster loans are the largest source of long-term federal disaster recovery funds for residents, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations.
There is no obligation to take an SBA disaster loan or cost to apply. Residents who are declined for an SBA loan may be referred to FEMA for grant consideration.
- Survivors who have not applied for FEMA assistance yet can do so in any of the following ways:
- Online through www.DisasterAssistance.gov
- Download the FEMA app to a smartphone or tablet.
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585).
- Lines are open daily from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. local time, seven days a week. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
Businesses and individuals may obtain information about low-interest disaster loans by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at sba.gov/disaster.
Those with insurance may use an SBA loan to cover the deductible and other losses not paid for by their policy. Survivors with insurance should also apply to FEMA, as they may be eligible for grants to help with disaster-related expenses their insurance doesn’t cover.
If an applicant does not meet the citizenship or immigration status at the time of application, the household may still apply for certain forms of FEMA assistance. Undocumented custodial parents or legal guardians may apply on behalf of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified non-citizen living in the same household. The parent or legal guardian must register as the co-applicant, and the minor child must be under age 18 at the time the disaster occurred
For more information on Tennessee’s disaster recovery, visit www.tn.gov/tema.html and www.fema.gov/disaster/4609. You may also follow FEMA on www.facebook.com/fema and Twitter @FEMARegion4.
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