Two Weeks Left to Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance

Wednesday, August 06, 2025 | 04:28pm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennesseans who experienced damage or losses from early April’s severe weather, tornadoes, and flooding in the western and middle regions of the state have two weeks left to apply for federal disaster assistance.

The deadline to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT. Survivors in Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, and Wilson counties are eligible to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance (IA). 

The deadline to apply for a low-interest federal disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is also Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Applying for Individual Assistance (IA)

Individual Assistance may provide rental assistance, home repairs, personal property replacement, money to help clean and sanitize your home, and aid for uninsured or underinsured disaster losses. Survivors must apply for FEMA IA to be considered for available funding programs. More information on FEMA’s IA program can be found here.

There are four ways to apply for FEMA assistance: 

  • Online anytime at disasterassistance.gov
  • On the FEMA App
  • By phone at 1-800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. – midnight Eastern Time. Multilingual operators are available.
  • In-person at a Disaster Recovery Center. To find one, visit fema.gov/drc.

I applied for Individual Assistance (IA).  What’s next?

FEMA will call applicants to ensure they receive all the assistance they are eligible for, which could include housing options, additional funds, or referrals to agencies and organizations who may be able to provide help that FEMA cannot. These calls may come from unknown numbers, so it is important for Tennesseans who applied for assistance to answer calls during this time.

If you applied for IA, it is also important to stay in touch with FEMA and update your contact information if it changes. The fastest way to update your information and stay in contact with FEMA is through your DisasterAssistance.gov account. If you do not have internet access or need services not available on FEMA’s website, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.

U.S. Small Business Administration

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in regions affected by early April's declared disaster.  The deadline to apply is also Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against high wind damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage. To learn more or apply, visit sba.gov/disaster or call 800-659-2955.

Guard Against Fraud

Tennesseans should be aware that con artists and criminals may try to obtain money or steal personal information through fraud or identity theft after the April 2-24 severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding. In some cases, thieves try to apply for FEMA assistance using names, addresses and Social Security numbers they have stolen from people affected by the disaster.

If a FEMA inspector comes to your home and you did not submit a FEMA application, your information may have been used without your knowledge to apply for assistance. If this happens, please inform the inspector that you did not apply for FEMA
assistance so they can submit a request to stop further processing of the application.

If you did not apply for assistance but you received a letter from FEMA, please call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily. Helpline specialists will submit a request to stop further processing of that application. If you want to apply for FEMA assistance after stopping an application made in your name without your knowledge, helpline specialists will assist you in creating a new application.

Scams

FEMA housing inspectors and other officials will be working in areas impacted by April’s severe weather. They carry official photo identification badges. FEMA representatives never charge for disaster assistance, inspections or help filling out applications — their services are free. Don’t believe anyone who promises a disaster grant in return for payment. Don’t give your banking information to a person claiming to be a FEMA housing inspector. FEMA inspectors are never authorized to collect your personal financial information.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam or price gouging, or you want to report a person or company for disaster relief scams or price gouging, contact your local police or sheriff’s department. You may also report it to the Tennessee
Division of Consumer Affairs by calling 615-741-4737 or go online and file a fraud complaint at TN Division of Consumer Affairs.

If you have knowledge of fraud, waste or abuse, you can report these tips – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – to the FEMA
Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. You can also email StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov to report a tip.

For the latest information about Tennessee’s recovery, visit tn.gov/tema or fema.gov/disaster/4878.