When a disaster strikes, Tennessee’s Public Assistance Program for Disaster Recovery (TPA) is activated to provide assistance to eligible individuals and families. The program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
TPA provides financial assistance for eligible disaster-related expenses such as temporary housing, home repairs, and essential personal property replacement. The program also provides for other needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, and funeral expenses.
To be eligible for TPA assistance, applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents of the United States, and they must have suffered disaster-related damages or losses. In addition, applicants must have insurance that does not cover the full cost of their disaster-related damages or losses.
To apply for TPA assistance, eligible individuals and families must complete and submit a Disaster Assistance Application. The application can be completed online at the TDHS website, or it can be obtained by calling the TDHS Disaster Assistance Helpline at 1-800-525-0321.
Once an application is received, a TDHS caseworker will contact the applicant to discuss the next steps in the process. Applicants may also be required to submit additional documentation to support their eligibility for assistance.
After an application is approved, TPA assistance is provided in the form of a grant. Grant payments are made directly to the applicant, and they can be used to cover eligible disaster-related expenses.
TPA assistance is available to eligible individuals and families who have been affected by a disaster. If you have been affected by a disaster and need assistance, please contact the TDHS Disaster Assistance Helpline at 1-800-525-0321 to apply for assistance.
https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/humanservices/documents/disaster-assistance-guide.pdf
https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/disaster-assistance.html
https://www.fema.gov/disaster-assistance/get-assistance