Mobile disaster recovery center to open in Decaturville May 2

Decatur County households still facing roof damage, debris, or utility disruptions from Winter Storm Fern could get face-to-face disaster help at 403 W. Highland St. in Decaturville when Tennessee’s mobile disaster recovery center opened May 2. The site was set up to give survivors a local place to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance, check the status of an application, clear up paperwork or eligibility problems, and connect with other recovery services without having to rely only on phone calls or online forms.

The Decaturville stop was part of a broader expansion of federal aid after the state’s April 11 amendment to Tennessee’s major disaster declaration added FEMA Individual Assistance for 29 counties, including Decatur County. State officials said all 95 Tennessee counties already had been designated for FEMA Public Assistance or emergency protective measures under Public Assistance, underscoring how far the January storm recovery has stretched across the state.

The help available through Individual Assistance can cover temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of essential personal property, and other serious disaster-related needs. Applicants should be ready with contact information, damage details, household income information, and insurance information before they start the process. Tennessee Emergency Management Agency also warned that FEMA may call applicants from unknown or unfamiliar numbers, and people should answer those calls so their cases can keep moving.

The Decatur County site was scheduled to operate Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time, and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Beginning May 10, all disaster recovery centers and mobile disaster recovery centers in Tennessee were scheduled to be closed on Sundays. Previously scheduled mobile registration intake centers were set to remain open through May 6, then the broader recovery centers would continue handling in-person assistance.

Residents who could not get to the Decaturville site also could apply through DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362, or through the FEMA app. TEMA urged people to verify locations and hours before traveling, since mobile recovery center schedules can change. For Decatur County families still sorting out what the storm left behind, the new stop in Decaturville offered the fastest route to move a claim forward and avoid losing time on recovery money that can help repair homes and replace what the storm destroyed.