Nearly one month after tornadoes ripped through Tennessee, more than $4.3 million has been approved in disaster assistance grants and loans for homeowners, renters and business owners by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). "As cleanup continues and lives are being rebuilt, FEMA, other federal agencies, state and local governments, faith-based groups and voluntary agencies will continue to do all that we can to help Tennesseans on their road to recovery," said Federal Coordinating Officer Gracia Szczech.
Federal assistance to Tennesseans follows President Bush's Feb. 7 disaster declaration as a result of the Feb. 5-6 severe storms and tornadoes.
"We are pleased that disaster funds are in the hands of Tennesseans," said Tennessee Emergency Management Agency Director James Bassham. "We encourage anyone, insured or not, who had disaster-related damages or losses to still register with FEMA."
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