Disaster recovery centers offer in-person chance to get FEMA support

On the quiet lower level of the courthouse in Greeneville is a busy disaster recovery center where FEMA agents’ goal is to make life a little easier for Tennesseans seeking post-Helene normalcy.

FEMA recently expanded its operations In flood-ravaged East Tennessee, additional disaster recovery centers opened in Greene County and Hamblen County.

For those who still don’t have internet or electricity, or who prefer the more personal nature of meeting in person, one of FEMA’s disaster recovery centers may be an ideal way to seek help. The centers also offer the chance to go over specific questions or talk about a specific need.

In Greene County, the center is not overly bureaucratic and there are no long wait times like you might see at the DMV. There is a conversational approach that acknowledges the individuality of each person’s situation.

Providing community resources and support is a focus across centers. “It’s great to talk to people,” said Bob Nix, a FEMA hazard mitigation specialist who works in central Greene County.

“That’s why we do what we do. “At the end of the day, we’re helping people,” said FEMA representative Rick Brewer. “We’re just here to support people.”

What happens in disaster recovery centers?

At a disaster recovery center, FEMA representatives are available to help apply for assistance, check the status of the application and review decision letters, Brewer said.

Some centers also have hazard mitigation support, a resource with information to help rebuilders, whether it’s advice on hiring a reputable contractor or tools to assess whether a home or rental property is in a floodplain.

The average length of a visit to Greene County headquarters is about 20-25 minutes, and most visitors are seen right away, Brewer said.

According to FEMA, to complete the initial application, those heading to the center must prepare the following:

Primary applicant’s name and Social Security number
Co-applicant’s name and Social Security number (recommended by FEMA but not required)
Current contact information
Current and pre-disaster address, including zip codes
Names of all people living in the house before the disaster
Types of insurance held by households
Pre-disaster annual gross income of the household
Losses caused by the disaster
Bank account number and routing number for direct deposit if desired

More than 10,000 households in Tennessee have applied since the disaster was declared. An average of 17 households a day have been coming to the Greene County center to apply for assistance since it opened on Oct. 22.

Central Greene County is accessible and parking is available; Both are priorities when establishing a center.

“We try to locate these DRCs in locations that are well known to those in the community,” Brewer said. “We’re trying to make this as convenient as possible. I can’t stress that enough.”

Where are Tennessee’s disaster recovery centers?

There are five designated centers where FEMA support is available in Tennessee, according to the agency’s online statement disaster recovery center locator:

Carter County: 1745 Highway 19 E., Elizabethton, TN 37643
Cocke County: 466 Learning Way, Newport, TN 37821
Greene County: 204 N. Cutler St., Greeneville, TN 37745
Hamblen Township: 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, while Carter and Cocke County have state-established multi-agency resource centers that include FEMA personnel. Brewer said FEMA plans to establish additional disaster recovery centers in Tennessee.

Some FEMA agents are going door-to-door to offer application assistance, positioning themselves in places that have naturally become community centers in Helene’s wake. Fender’s Farm Brewer said it was in Washington County.

In addition to in-person opportunities, Tennesseans recovering from Hurricane Helene can apply for FEMA assistance online at: DisasterAssistance.gov or FEMA Application. There is also a hotline: 800-621-3362.

The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance is Dec. 2, according to a news release from FEMA. As of October 25, the federal government had provided more than $15 million in assistance to Tennesseans affected by Hurricane Helene. FEMA Brewer told Knox News they provide funding for housing and other types of assistance.

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

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What happens in disaster recovery centers?

Where are Tennessee’s disaster recovery centers?

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