Two Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg
January 5, 2017
Sevierville, TN - - (January 4, 2017) - - Two disaster recovery centers are open in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg to help homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the wildfires in Sevier County.
Representatives from FEMA, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration are staffing the recovery centers. They can explain disaster assistance programs and help survivors apply for federal assistance. Survivors can also learn about the appeals process and get updates about applications.
A representative from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will also be at the Gatlinburg Community Center on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week to answer questions about unemployment as a direct result of the wildfires.
Disaster recovery center locations and hours are:
Sevier County
Location: Factory Outlet Mall
2850 Parkway, Suite 5
(Between Country Music USA and Handbag Superstore)
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Sundays, Closed
Location: Gatlinburg Community Center
156 Proffitt Rd.
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon
Sundays, Closed
Disaster assistance is available to eligible individuals and households affected by the recent wildfires that swept through Sevier County Nov. 28 to Dec. 9. Survivors may visit either disaster recovery center but they do not need to visit a center to register.
Survivors may register the following ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
- Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish).
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Help is available in most languages and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.
Survivors with disabilities can be assured they will receive the same services and assistance offered to everyone in the declared disaster area. This is a FEMA commitment.
Insurance is a property owner’s first line of defense. FEMA assistance may be available to cover uninsured or underinsured losses.
The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, homeowners, renters and private nonprofit organizations.
For more information, call SBA’s disaster assistance customer service center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit sba.gov/disaster. TTY users can call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
For updates on Tennessee’s wildfire response and recovery, follow @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit TNEMA.org/, mountaintough.org/ and fema.gov/disaster/4293.
Information source: Federal Emergency Management Agency