A Disaster Recovery Center will open at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 16 at the Tipton County Public Library accommodate residents who were affected by the storms and tornadoes and want to update their existing FEMA applications or learn about state and community programs and other available assistance.
The DRC will be open from 1-7 p.m. on Sundays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.
Under the major disaster declaration, 10 Tennessee counties were designated for FEMA Individual Assistance, meaning residents who had uninsured or underinsured damage or losses from the March 31 to April 1, 2023, storms and tornadoes may apply for FEMA assistance. The designated counties are Cannon, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Lewis, Macon, McNairy, Rutherford, Tipton and Wayne.
You do not need to visit a Disaster Recovery Center to apply to FEMA. But do first file a claim with your insurance company or agent before applying for FEMA assistance.
The Tipton County Public Library is located at 3149 Highway 51 South in Covington.
Specialists at Disaster Recovery Centers can clarify information you have received from FEMA or other agencies. They can also discuss with you other FEMA grants that don’t have to be repaid, including funding if you had to stay in a hotel temporarily or funding for basic home repairs if, as a homeowner, your primary residence was damaged in the storms.
Here are the ways to apply for FEMA assistance:
- Go to DisasterAssistance.gov
- Use the FEMA mobile app
- Call the Disaster Assistance Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use a relay service such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply. Helpline operators are available from 6 a.m. to midnight Central Daylight Time daily. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
- For an American Sign Language video on how to apply, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LU7wzRjByhI&list=PL720Kw_ OojlKOhtKG7HM_0n_kEawus6FC& index=6 - As Disaster Recovery Centers open across western Tennessee, you may decide to visit any recovery center to get help. To find one near you, go to: https://egateway.fema.gov/
ESF6/DRCLocator
For the latest information on Tennessee’s recovery from the severe storms, straight-line winds and tornadoes, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4701. You may also follow TN.gov/TEMA; Twitter.com/TEMA, Facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo, @FEMARegion4/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
