Congressman Jim Cooper - Flooding in Tennessee

Flooding in Tennessee

From Lebanon to Bellevue, downtown Nashville to Antioch and all areas in between, the challenges facing our communities are daunting, but I am committed to ensuring that we emerge from this disaster stronger and more vibrant than ever.

Thanks to the dedication of local officials and thousands of volunteers, we've had the best community response ever to any disaster. Now my job is to make sure that the federal government responds with the same determination. We should also examine what could have been done differently in the days and weeks prior to the flooding.

Federal assistance is available for homeowners, renters and businesses.   One type of federal assistance is through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Residents in Cheatham, Davidson & Wilson Counties affected by the flood should register for assistance for FEMA online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Specialists will be available from 6 a.m. to midnight (CDT).

To see other counties in Tennessee who qualify for FEMA assistance, view FEMA's Disaster Declaration Map for Tennessee. For links to other helpful information from FEMA, click here .

A second type of federal assistance is a disaster relief tax cut.   You may be able to claim a deduction for much of the damage to your home or business for losses not covered by your insurance, FEMA or an SBA loan. Click here to read my op-ed for more details.

CAUTION: **Flood victims should beware of disaster scams during the Flood Recovery and should confirm the identity of all FEMA and SBA officials before offering up personal information. Please note that a FEMA official will not ask for your Social Security number except on your initial call to them. For more information on Flood Disaster related scam, please click here.**

Information for Flood Victims

Please use the links below to navigate:

1. Sign Up for Assistance
- Negatively impacted by the flood? Please sign up with our office and someone will contact you about the type of assistance the Federal Government can provide.

2. Resources for Homeowners
- Provides information and guidelines to those who have suffered home damage.

3. Resources for Business Disaster Recovery
- Includes state, community, and federal resources. Provides information on Small Business Administration disaster loans, insurance contact information, and guidelines for how to rebuild your small business.

4. Community Resources
- Provides information on health care, appliance repair, legal clinics and shelters.

5. Volunteer Efforts
- See where you can go to help.

6. Latest News and Updates

July 22, 2010