One Week Left to Register for Federal Assistance for Spring Storms

Wednesday, June 30, 2021 | 03:26pm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Homeowners and renters in Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties with uninsured damage or losses from the March 25 – April 3, 2021 severe storms have one week left to apply to FEMA for federal disaster assistance and to the U.S. Small Business Administration for low interest disaster loans.

The deadline for both is Wednesday, July 7, 2021

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.

Those who still have not registered with FEMA can do so at DisasterAssistance.gov or by downloading fema.gov/mobile-app. Or you can call the disaster assistance helpline: 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Please note that helpline will be closed on Sunday, July 4 and Monday, July 5. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, July 6. Lines are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time. Operators are multilingual and those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service. If you need accommodations for language or a disability, let the operator know.

To apply for a disaster loan, you can go to https://DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov/ela/s/. You may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center. The center is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time, seven days a week. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339. The SBA CSC will be open Saturday and Sunday, but please note that it will be closed on Monday, July 5^th. It will resume normal operations on Tuesday July 6^th. The Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center/Business Recovery Center (VDLOC/VBRC) is open: Monday - Sunday (7 days/week) Hours: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Eastern Time)

There is no obligation to take an SBA disaster home loan or cost to apply. Residents that are declined for an SBA loan will be referred to FEMA for grant consideration.

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. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits.

For more information on Tennessee’s disaster recovery, visit www.tn.gov/tema.html and www.fema.gov/disaster/4601. You may also follow FEMA on www.facebook.com/fema and Twitter @FEMARegion4.