Tenn. Storm Recovery Continues

In less than two weeks since President Bush declared a major disaster for the state of Tennessee, significant amounts of federal aid have begun to flow into the affected areas. Families and individuals who suffered damage from the tornadoes and severe storms of Feb. 5-6 have been approved to receive $1,360,237 in assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state of Tennessee. Under the federal disaster declaration, renters, homeowners and businesses in Benton, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Macon, Madison, Montgomery, Perry, Shelby, Sumner, Trousdale and Williamson counties are eligible to apply for disaster assistance. "We are encouraging anyone in the declared counties who suffered damage in these storms to apply with FEMA, whether they have insurance or not,"said Gracia Szczech, the federal coordinating officer for this disaster. "Even if their insurance covers most of the damage, there are other types of assistance and services that FEMA and the state of Tennessee can offer disaster victims.”