Almost Half of Appeals to Get FEMA Aid Successful

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has received more than 2,000 appeals from applicants either rejected or asking for more help after May’s flooding. And of those appeals, just under half have succeeded.

FEMA officials say small mistakes can scuttle applications, like a misspelled name or an off digit in a social security number, missing paperwork or a missed inspection. Kim Akridge helps flood victims register for FEMA aid; she says smoothing those kinks out in an appeal can get applicants back on track.

“Once we get the correct information, it starts the process.”

Other appeals come in when people discover flood damage is worse than they first thought. For instance, Akridge says appliances that seemed fine sometimes actually have to be replaced.

“FEMA most of the time grants that replacement for hot-water, furnace, and AC units, ducts, things of that nature, because you really don’t know after a couple of days; it may come on, and maybe a week later it won’t come on – it’s totally destroyed.”

The 2,700 hundred appeals make up just a tiny sliver of the more than 65,000 aid applications FEMA has received.

FEMA’s deadline to apply for individual help is August 5. Officials say they’ve approved some $80 million for assistance in Davidson County alone.
There are several ways to apply for disaster assistance:

1. Call FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 any day of the week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
2. Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.
3. Use your mobile phone by visiting m.fema.gov.