Flooding has impacted parts of Christie Street in Dyersburg, Tennessee, as seen on April 10, 2025 (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently approved over $5 million in disaster assistance for residents in Tennessee who were affected by the severe storms and flooding in April.
However, there’s a tight deadline for individuals to apply for this aid—applications for FEMA support will only be accepted until August 19.
Additionally, FEMA is preparing to shut down three disaster recovery centers designed to help victims with their assistance applications and connect them with other resources. The centers located in Dyer, McNairy, and Montgomery counties are set to close at 6 PM on August 1, while those in Hardeman and Obion counties will continue operations until further notice.
Since the federal disaster declaration by President Trump in April, FEMA has approved 728 applications totaling almost $5.2 million as of June 19. Of this, around $2.8 million is for housing assistance, with $2.3 million allocated for other needs reported by July 29.
This housing assistance is aimed at helping affected individuals pay for temporary housing and make repairs on their homes that insurance may not cover. Funds might also be available to assist in replacing essential systems like wells and furnaces.
FEMA’s “other support” program helps cover uninsured out-of-pocket expenses, which could include medical bills, funeral expenses, cleaning costs, moving and storage fees, childcare expenses, vehicle repairs or replacements, and even the replacement of everyday items like clothes, furniture, and tools.
Homeowners and renters in counties such as Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Dyer, Hardeman, McNairy, Montgomery, Obion, and Wilson can apply for separate grants for temporary housing and repairs, as well as low-interest loans for uninsured losses.
Importantly, FEMA does not cover losses that have already been compensated by insurance, and they recommend submitting claims to insurance providers before seeking FEMA assistance.
Support received from FEMA is not considered taxable income and won’t impact eligibility for other federal programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Individuals can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov or via the FEMA Mobile App, or by calling 800-621-3362.
Additional assistance is available at the Safe Haven Storm Shelter located at 530 Madison Avenue W in Grand Junction, Hardeman County, as well as at the remaining Disaster Recovery Center at the Obion County Library in Union City.
This center provides information and support from both FEMA and the Small Business Administration. For more details on times and resources available at each center, visit FEMA.GOV/DISASTER/4878.
