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Disaster Recovery Centers Offer In-Person Opportunities to Receive FEMA Support

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Disaster Recovery Centers Offer In-Person Opportunities to Receive FEMA Support

On the quiet lower level of the Greenville Courthouse Annex sits a bustling disaster recovery center where FEMA agents aim to make life a little easier for Tennesseans seeking normalcy in the wake of Helen.

FEMA recently expanded its operations in flood-ravaged East Tennessee by opening additional disaster recovery centers in Greene and Hamblen counties.

For those who are still without internet and electricity, or simply prefer the more intimate nature of in-person conversations, one of FEMA’s disaster recovery centers may be the ideal way to apply for assistance. The centers also provide an opportunity to discuss specific issues or discuss a specific need.

In Greene County, the center doesn’t seem overly bureaucratic, and there aren’t long wait times like at the DMV. There is a conversational approach that recognizes the individuality of each person’s situation.

Providing community resources and support is a core mission of all centers. “It’s great to connect with people,” said Bob Nix, a FEMA risk mitigation specialist based in downtown Greene County.

“That’s why we do what we do. Ultimately, it helps people,” said FEMA spokesman Rick Brewer. “We’re just here to support people.”

What happens in disaster recovery centers?

At the disaster recovery center, FEMA agents will help you apply for assistance, check application status and review decision letters, Brewer said.

Some centers also have Risk Mitigation Support, a resource that includes information useful to those involved in restoration, be it tips for hiring a reputable contractor or tools for assessing whether a home or rental property is located in a flood plain.

The average visit time to downtown Greene County is about 20 to 25 minutes, Brewer said, and most visitors were seen right away.

According to FEMA, those going to the center to submit an initial application should be prepared with the following:

  • Primary applicant’s name and social security number
  • Co-applicant’s name and Social Security number (FEMA recommended, but not required)
  • Current contact information
  • Current and pre-disaster addresses, including zip codes.
  • Names of all occupants of the home before the disaster
  • Types of insurance available to the household
  • Annual gross household income before disaster
  • Losses caused by the disaster
  • Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit, if required

More than 10,000 Tennessee households have filed claims since the disaster was declared. Since opening on Oct. 22, the Greene County center has averaged about 17 households per day seeking assistance.

The Greene County Center is accessible and has parking, which was a priority when creating the center.

“We try to place these DRCs in places that are well known to community members,” Brewer said. “We’re trying to make it as convenient as possible. I can’t stress this enough.”

Where are Tennessee Disaster Recovery Centers located?

There are five designated centers in Tennessee that offer FEMA support, according to the agency’s online search for disaster recovery centers:

  • Carter County: 1745 Highway 19 E., Elizabethton, TN 37643.
  • Coke County: 466 Learning Road, Newport, TN 37821.
  • Greene County: st. 204 N. Cutler St., Greenville, TN 37745.
  • Hamblen County: 441 W. Main St., Morristown, TN 37814.
  • Unicoi County: 615 S. Main Ave., Erwin, TN 37650.

Greene, Hamblen and Unicoi counties have disaster recovery centers, and Carter and Cocke counties have state multi-agency resource centers with FEMA personnel present. FEMA plans to establish additional disaster recovery centers in Tennessee, Brewer said.

Some FEMA agents went door to door to offer assistance with applications and set up in places that naturally became community centers after Helen, such as the Fenders Farm in Washington County, Brewer said.

In addition to in-person options, Tennesseans recovering from Hurricane Helen can apply for FEMA assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or the FEMA app. There is also a helpline: 800-621-3362.

Dec. 2 is the deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance, according to a FEMA press release. As of Oct. 25, the federal government had provided more than $15 million in FEMA funds for housing and other assistance to Tennesseans affected by Hurricane Helen, Brewer told Knox News.

Hayden Dunbar is a reporter and storyteller. Email [email protected].

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