All Resources Legal Advocate Network

2024

Tennessee Tropical Storm Helene

Page last updated: 11/08/2024

All disasters declared after March 22, 2024, fall under new Individual Assistance (IA) rules. For more information, please see FEMA’s press release here.

FEMA has established a Rumor Response page to address the many rumors, urban legends, and scams that are circulating around Hurricane Helene. To visit this page, click here.

Tennessee Tropical Storm Helene (DR- 4832)

Tropical Storm Helene struck Tennessee on September 26, 2024. On October 2, 2024, President Biden declared a major disaster.

People in the following counties are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance:

  • Carter
  • Cocke
  • Greene
  • Hamblen
  • Hawkins
  • Johnson
  • Unicoi
  • Washington

For the complete FEMA press release, please click here.

Important Deadlines

FEMA Application Deadline

Extended to Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

More Info

Appeal your FEMA decision letter

Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment

Monday, December 2, 2024

More Info

Automatic SNAP Replacement

Survivors in eight counties received automatic SNAP replacement equal to 65% of their September benefit on October 8, 2024.

SNAP households affected by Helene but not in those eight counties may still apply for SNAP replacement per the usual deadlines.

More Info

SNAP Hot Food Waiver

Approved until Saturday, November 30, 2024, for the following counties:

  • Carter
  • Cocke
  • Grainger
  • Greene
  • Hamblen
  • Hamblen
  • Hawkins
  • Jefferson
  • Johnson
  • Sevier
  • Sullivan
  • Unicoi
  • Washington

More Info

Apply for D-SNAP

Applications will be open from October 21-25, 2024, for survivors in the following counties:

  • Carter
  • Cocke
  • Greene
  • Hamblen
  • Hawkins
  • Johnson
  • Unicoi
  • Washington
Select households will be able to pre- register from October 14-17, 2024.

More Info

FEMA Assistance

Applications for FEMA Assistance can be submitted by:

Phone: Contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585.

Online: Fill out the application at DisasterAssistance.gov

In-Person: You can also fill out the application at a FEMA Disaster Resource Center (DRC).

Mobile Registration Intake Center: MRICs move around regularly. They will be in an area for a short period of time to help survivors who need registration help. Visit FEMA’s Disaster Declaration page to find more information about the Mobile Registration Intake Center locations and hours.

Disaster Recovery Center: To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s DRC locator or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area.

What to Expect After You Apply for FEMA Assistance

Created by FEMA, this handout provides a basic overview what to expect after you have applied for assistance.
also available in:
Español
FEMA Fact Sheet: Returning to In- Home Inspections

As of June 1, 2022, FEMA reinstituted verification of disaster-caused losses through in-person home inspections. Multiple virtual methods were used to inspect survivor homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disaster survivors’ health and safety remain FEMA’s priority so the agency will retain the ability to conduct inspections without entering the home.

This link will take you to FEMA’s fact sheet on in- home inspections.

Safety & Shelter Resources

Please check your local news and local officials for the latest safety and shelter resources.

Access information on Safety and Shelter assistance through the resources below.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Services

Explore resources from the American Red Cross on how to stay safe and recover from a disaster.

Website
Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Locator

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. You may also visit to ask questions about your case. The DRC Locator helps you find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you.

Website
Disaster and Disability Hotline

The Disability & Disaster Hotline, run by the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, offers help to people with disabilities and their families during emergencies. The hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and other resources for those impacted by disasters. Whether you’re a person with a disability, a family member, an organization assisting people with disabilities, or anyone else with pressing disaster-related needs, the hotline can connect you to support.

The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The link below will take you to the Partnership’s disaster hotline landing page.

Organization

A free legal help hotline is now available for Tropical Storm Helene survivors. Survivors can call 844-HELP4TN (844-435-7486) anytime, and leave a message if calling after hours.

For more information about this hotline, please click here.

On October 28, 2024, the Tennessee Supreme Court activated the “Katrina Rule,” allowing out- of- state attorneys to provide Pro Bono legal assistance. For more information, please click here.

Legal Aid of East Tennessee

865-637-0484

607 W Summit Hill Dr. SW
Knoxville, TN

Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

Organization
Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands

(800) 238-1443

1321 Murfreesboro Pike, Suite 400
Nashville, TN 37217

Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

Organization
Introducing: Disaster Legal Services

The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create Disaster Legal Services (DLS) — a program designed to help survivors navigate the aftermath of presidentially- declared disasters. The DLS program provides immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors—at no charge.

Issues where DLS can help include:

  • Insurance Claims
  • New Wills
  • Powers of Attorney
  • Other Legal Papers Lost During the Disaster
  • Problems with Landlords
  • FEMA Appeals
  • Home Repair Contracts and Contractor Fraud

Learn more through this short video.

Video
ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Hotline

(888) 743-5749

To help meet the growing legal needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with RingCentral Inc. to create a national hotline to connect the Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) with those seeking civil legal services.

Organization
Tennessee Bar Association

(615) 383-7421

221 Fourth Ave. North
Suite 400
Nashville, TN 37219

Professional association of lawyers.

Organization

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