ERWIN, Tenn. (WJHL) – FEMA operations in Tennessee continue a month after Hurricane Helene hit the Appalachian region. Disaster Recovery Centers have been set up from Hamblen County to Johnson County .
On Saturday, Darryl Dragoo, federal coordinating officer for the Tennessee Disaster, visited the Unicoi County DRC to check on FEMA operations and update the public on FEMA’s continued efforts.
“We have more than 450 FEMA personnel in Tennessee dedicated to this mission,” Dragoo said.
Dragoo said when it comes to receiving FEMA aid, the first step is to apply.
TEMA visits Johnson County, encourages residents to apply for assistance
“We can’t do anything unless you come in and register,” Dragoo said. “Come in and register with us. You can register online and on one of our apps on a phone, but you have to register.”
FEMA has recently increased its benefits, with more money to be allocated for approved recipients.
“The first thing that people can be eligible for is serious needs assistance,” Dragoo said. “And that’s actually $770, not $750, it did go up. And that’s for those immediate needs or serious needs you might have. The second one that they can be eligible for is what we call Displacement Assistance. If you’re unable to live in your home, it’s destroyed, it’s uninhabitable, is what we say; you’re also immediately eligible for $1,666. What that does is it allows about a two-week period where you can rent something so you can be in a safe, habitable, safe and secure environment.”