DeKalb County has been declared a disaster area by President Barack Obama two weeks after tornadoes took one life and damaged more than 100 homes locally.
Obama has issued a major disaster declaration for 10 Tennessee counties, triggering the release of federal relief funds for assistance in DeKalb, Bradley, Claiborne, Cumberland, Hamilton, Jackson, McMinn, Monroe, Overton and Polk counties in the aftermath of storm damage caused between Feb. 29 and March 2.
The aid will supplement state and local recovery efforts.
Available assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs and low-cost loans to help cover uninsured property losses, as well as other programs designed to assist homeowners and business owners to recovery.
FEMA Public Information Officer Gene Kauffman told the Review Monday that residents with damage from the storm are encouraged to file for assistance whether they were insured or not.
“We are urging people to register whether they have insurance, or if they don’t have insurance, they still should register for assistance and see if they qualify.
“Even people who have insurance can possibly get some help if not everything is covered that was lost,” Kauffman said of the program.
Although the agency will initially be based in Cookeville because of Putnam County’s central location, Kauffman said the a local FEMA office may eventually be opened.
“In the future we may have a disaster recovery center opening up in Smithville so we can have people actually come in and sit down and talk to a FEMA representative, as well as representatives from the Small Business Administration,” he noted.
In a statement released Saturday, Governor Bill Haslam voiced his appreciation for the quick response to his request for a major disaster declaration at from the federal government.
“My goal is always to make sure we get the needed assistance to as many families as possible,” said Haslam. “I’m very pleased the federal government has taken this step to provide needed relief to those individuals and families impacted by these storms.”
Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker also released statements Saturday expressing their appreciation to the president’s office for the speedy response to the state’s dilemma.
Both senators, along with Reps. Diane Black, John J. Duncan, Scott DesJarlais  and Chuck Fleischmann, sent a letter to the president in support of Haslam's request that a major disaster declaration be issued on March 15.
“I thank Governor Haslam for seeking aid for those recovering from the severe storms,” Corker said in his release.
“I appreciate the administration’s quick approval of the governor’s request that was supported by our congressional delegation. As communities continue to repair and rebuild, I hope this assistance will help Tennesseans in need.”
Alexander also gave the president kudos, and noted that any assistance will be greatly appreciated by victims in Tennessee.
“This federal support won’t make anyone whole,” Alexander said in his prepared statement, “but it will help people and businesses get back on their feet.”
Storm survivors should register with FEMA, a process that takes 15-30 minutes.
Registration is available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by phone at 800-621-FEMA (3362).
Help is available in many languages.
Disaster applicants who use TTY should call 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) should call 800-621-3362.
The toll-free FEMA registration numbers are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Survivors also can apply for federal assistance directly through Web-enabled mobile phone devices or smartphones.
Registration through the mobile site involves three steps:
1. Go to m.fema.gov and click "Apply Online for FEMA Assistance." You will be directed to www.Disaster Assistance.gov;
2. Click on Start Registration; and
3. Fill out the registration form.
 FEMA will ask for the following information:
• The telephone number where applicants can be reached;
• The address where applicants lived at the time of the disaster and the address where they are staying;
• Their Social Security number;
• A general description of damage to property and other losses;
• The name of the insurance company and policy number or agent if the property is insured; and
• Bank account routing information (for direct deposit of funds) or address for mail delivery (optional).
People whose property suffered any storm damage are encouraged to document damage with photographs and to save repair receipts.
Damage also should be reported to the insurance company.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all of Tennessee.
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status.
If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
FEMA's temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan.
However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.
There has been no official word yet on when residents might be eligible to receive assistance. The application process began Saturday.