Disaster Assistance

Dealing with a Disaster at Home

During a disaster, federal, state and local agencies work together to help communities react and recover.  Please review information on my disaster relief efforts.

Preparing for a Disaster

Before a disaster strikes, work with your family to create a plan. Check out our recommendations to "Build a Kit, Make a Plan and Be Informed."  Just a little preparation and planning can make a big difference if you are ever in a disaster situation. 

Dealing with a Crisis Overseas

If you or your loved one are overseas during a crisis, we can assist in coordinating emergency information with the State Department.   We will send you updates and travel advisories with the latest information (See an example: Egypt Travel Alert for February 2011) .

We recommend that all international travelers register with the Smart Traveller Enrollment Program, STEP, a free program from the Department of State that allows you to register your travel with the nearest embassy and provide any necessary updates directly to you.

If you need emergency passport assistance, visit this website and contact my office.
 

Flooding in Nashville, May 2010

From Lebanon to Bellevue, downtown Nashville to Antioch and all areas inbetween, 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.

Our community is planning for a long term recovery.  The United Way, in partnership with other agencies, has launched Restore the Dream centers where caseworkers work individually with victims to try to meet the needs of each household.  Visit the Restore the Dream website for additional information.

I will continue working with local and state officials and other community agencies on recovery efforts in the months and years to come.   If you have a specific question about your Disaster Relief FEMA or SBA case, please contact my Nashville Office at (615) 736-5295. 
 

Federal Assistance Available

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.   

Assistance is available for homeowners, renters and businesses through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA).

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

CAUTION: **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:

Resources for Homeowners

   - Provides information and guidelines to those who have suffered home damage.

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.

Community Resources

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

Volunteer Efforts

   - See where you can go to help.