Federal Disaster Assistance Approaches $6 Million for Sevier County Wildfires




January 14, 2017


Sevierville, TN - - (January 13, 2017) - - Survivors of the Sevier County wildfires have received nearly $5.9 million in federal disaster assistance and loans from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

With the Feb. 13 deadline approaching to register for FEMA disaster assistance, here is a snapshot of the wildfire recovery in Tennessee since the Dec. 15 major disaster declaration.

Except as noted, the figures below are from close of business Jan. 12:


• Registrations approved for disaster assistance: 323

• Individuals and Households Program amount approved: nearly $2.4 million

• Housing Assistance approved: nearly $1.3 million

• Other Needs Assistance approved: nearly $1.1 million

• Percentage of housing inspections completed: 95 percent



SBA loans to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes totaled: more than $3.5 million, including:


• more than $2.2 million in loans to homeowners and renters

• $574,000 in loans to businesses for physical disaster damage

• $740,400 in economic injury disaster loans to businesses to replace working capital lost due to the disaster.

• 508 survivor visits to the two disaster recovery center locations established during the recovery.


Federal disaster assistance is available to eligible individuals and households, and to those who were working in or visiting Sevier County between Nov. 28 and Dec. 9 and had disaster-related damage.

Disaster survivors may register for federal assistance 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 10 p.m.

• Help is available in most languages.


For updates on Tennessee’s wildfire response and recovery, follow @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit TNEMA.org/, MountainTough.org/ and fema.gov/disaster/4293.


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Information source: Federal Emergency Management Agency