NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Two weeks after a tornado ripped through Middle Tennessee, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is still in the mid-state and available to help.
FEMA officials are encouraging renters in Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties whose homes and property were damaged by the tornadoes to apply for federal disaster assistance before the deadline.
FEMA assistance is known to help those with little or no insurance, but it is also availablt to renters, including students, as well as homeowners. Officials say federal grants can help pay for temporary housing.
The initial rental grant is for a 60-day period and can be reviewed for further assistance. The deadline to register for federal aid is May 4, 2020.
Renters may also qualify for a grant under FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program for essential personal property and other disaster-related expenses.
These may include:
- Replacement or repair of necessary personal property, such as furniture, appliances, clothing, text books or school supplies
- Replacement or repair of tools and other job-related equipment required by the self-employed
- Primary vehicles
- Medical and dental bills
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to help Tennessee renters repair or replace disaster-damaged personal property, including automobiles. Loan rates are as low as 1.563 percent, terms can be as long as 30 years, and survivors may be eligible for up to $40,000, depending on their losses.
Survivors in Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties can register with FEMA in the following ways:
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov [u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net]
- Download the FEMA App
- Call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time, seven days a week.
- Visit a Disaster Recovery Center (to locate the nearest center, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster-recovery-centers [u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net].
