UWSC Disaster Relief Hub

Due to the incredible generosity of the community to support disaster relief efforts, we have received more than enough supplies/items from our supplies list to help with cleanup efforts.  We do not need further items at this time.  We are so blessed to be a part of such a giving community!

Updated information as of December 18, 2023: 

Thank you so much for an incredible outpouring of volunteer support on our Community Clean-up Day on Saturday, December 16.  We had over 850 volunteers working to put our community back together!

We currently do not have any specific volunteer needs for disaster recovery efforts.  Those interested in providing assistance for any needs as they arise, may click here and go to "sign-up to volunteer" to be added to our volunteer roster. 

EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

Who can get assistance?

• victims who have experienced household or personal storm-related damage and expenses
• victims who have experienced business storm-related damage and expenses
• victims who have lost income due to storm-related damage

What kinds of assistance is available?

• Assistance with storm damage - Applies to personal, household, and business losses. May include insurance deductibles, emergency repair expenses, amounts not covered by insurance, temporary shelter costs, costs associated with loss of transportation, etc.
• Assistance for wage loss due to storm damage at place of employment - May include help with rent/mortgage, utilities, food, other direct financial assistance, etc.

Who do I call/where do I go for assistance?

• United Way of Sumner County Help Centers
  • For individuals and families, if you are in immediate need, please contact
    • Amazing Grace Mission of Sumner County serving Westmoreland and Bethpage at 615-644-4357.
    • Gallatin CARES at 615-452-5732.
    • Hendersonville Samaritan Association at 615-824-7105.
    • Portland CARES at 615-325-7805
    • Unlimited Potential serves all of Sumner County and may be able to help with immediate needs such as hotel stays and gas cards.  Call them at 615-230-5906. 
    • You can also find additional help resources on our Get Help page.
    • For more help, call 2-1-1 (615-279-1410) or Text your Zip Code to 898-211 to start a Text Chat.
       
• Sumner County Schools
  • If you have a Sumner County School student and have sustained damage to your home and are unable to stay in it, please contact Kecia Ray at Sumner County Schools who manages funds under the federal McKinney-Vento program for displaced students.  She will ensure that your child has transportation to and is able to stay at their current school, can provide hotel stays for displaced families, and help with other immediate needs.  Call her at 615-451-5444.
     
• Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County can also provide relief for homeowners facing home damage and financial hardship due to insurance deductibles and/or repairs. Eligibility criteria apply – you must be a Sumner County homeowner falling within their income guidelines. Call 615-543-6584.
  • They may be able to help provide volunteers to help with yard clean-up including free tree removal.
  • They may be able to provide assistance to those with storm damage by providing materials from their Re-Store.
  • Their Critical Home Repairs program can provide free year-round help with water damage, roof repair, windows, HVAC, etc. for those over 60, disabled, or veterans of any age. 
  • Their partner, Westminster Homes Connection, can provide assistance in foundation repair for the elderly and disabled.  Call them directly at 615-693-2153.
     
• The REALTORS® Relief Foundation is now accepting applications from Tennesseans who experienced damage from the tornado that tore through Tennessee on May 8, 2024. This weather event devastated communities across 15 counties throughout Middle Tennessee. Funds will be made available to the public to assist with disaster victims’ housing payments as relief and recovery efforts continue. The impacted counties include Montgomery, Hamilton, Cheatham, Giles, Lincoln, Maury, Cannon, Rutherford, Warren, Wilson, Macon, Sumner, Polk, Jackson, and Smith counties.  Click here to apply.
   
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support to survivors experiencing emotional distress related to the storms. Call 800-985-5990, visit samhsa.gov/ or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. If American Sign Language (ASL) is your primary or preferred language, use your videophone to call 800-985-5990 or click on “ASL Now” at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov
• Volunteer Behavioral Health is also a local provider of mental health services.  Call their Disaster Survivor Help Line at 629-543-5494.

• Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee advises that you can call 615-451-1880 for legal assistance related to disaster.  They have provided this Disaster Insurance Claim Tip Sheet for working with your insurance company after a disaster.
   
• You can also call 1-844-HELP4TN (844 435-7486) for immediate legal advice from the Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services.  Click here for details about legal help available on the hotline including:
  • FEMA and SBA financial benefits
  • Home repair contracts and property insurance claims
  • Re-doing wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
  • Price gouging, scams, or identity theft
  • Landlord or tenant problems, or threats of foreclosure
  • Disability-related access to federal, state, and local disaster programs
     
• Contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance if you need help with insurance issues during your recovery process. Helpful information may be found at their website here.
   
•  If you have lost employment due to storm related damage:
  • For job assistance, you can contact Heather at heather.lane@tn.gov at the American Job Center at 615-206-0233.
  • You can also contact the Goodwill Career Center at 615-346-0233 or kristen.baker@givegw.org for job assistance.
     
• Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce
  • For business needs related to the December 2023 tornado, if you are in immediate need, please contact them at 615-824-2818.
     
• FEMA Information - for December 2023 tornado victims (individuals, families, businesses) should sign-up for FEMA assistance.  Many other assistance programs require FEMA registration in order to receive assistance.
  • How to Apply for FEMA Assistance - Deadline to apply is February 12.  (An individual or business may apply after the deadline with a good explanation for missing the deadline, such as having been away from the area or having been hospitalized [you or an immediate family member] during the application period.  Exceptions to the deadline will be made on a case to case basis, based on the justification. )
  • "Figuring out FEMA" is a guide that can help explain the process for getting short-term assistance from FEMA and long-term assistance from the SBA.  It includes information about how to appeal if you are denied or need more assistance.
  • FEMA Immigrants Disaster Assistance
  • FEMA Help for Churches, Non-Profits, and Government
    • Resources for Private Non-Profits on Navigating Public Assistance
    • Help for Houses of Worship
    • What Houses of Worship Need to Know About the FEMA Disaster Aid Process
    • Difference Between Individual Assistance vs. Public Assistance Grant Programs
    • Documents Needed When Applying for Public Assistance
       
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers December 2023 tornado victims low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses and nonprofit organizations.
  • SBA loans can be used to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or FEMA and to cover business operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.   
    • Deadline for businesses and non-profits to apply for an economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) is September 12, 2024.  Economic Injury loans are for working capital.  They have no payment and no interest for 12 months.  You can apply before insurance is settled.  Click here for more information. 
  • You are encouraged to apply even if you're not sure yet if you will need the funds.  You can always pay back your loan early with any funds you don't use.  
  • Please note:  If FEMA refers you to the SBA, it is important to submit the disaster loan application. If approved, you do not have to accept a loan but failure to submit the application may disqualify you from other possible financial assistance from FEMA and the state of Tennessee. 
  • Click here for more information on the types of SBA loans available, loan terms, and interest rates.
  • Loan information and applications can also be obtained by calling 800-659-2955.
  • More information and applications is also available at www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance. 
  • SBA Mitigation Assistance - SBA loans can also help with improvements to mitigate damage from future storms.  Click here for information in English and in Spanish.

• Taxes
  • The IRS has announced tax relief for taxpayers impacted by the severe storms and tornadoes in Tennessee in December 2023 by offering extended tax deadlines.  Click here for more information.
  • United Way also has a guide available to help taxpayers who have been impacted by disaster.  Click here for the My Free Taxes Disaster Resilience Tax Guide.  It is also available in Spanish.

• Other Government Assistance
  • Go to www.disasterassistance.gov for federal programs for disaster assistance including FEMA and the Small Business Administration.
     

Be aware of scams and price gauging:

• The Attorney General's Office advises that disaster victims be aware of potential scams and price gauging.  If you have a complaint, you can click here or contact Alicia Daniels-Hill at 615-253-3819.

• Tennessee Price-Gouging Act of 2002 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-5101 et seq.)  Tennessee's price gouging laws make it unlawful for individuals and businesses to charge unreasonable prices for essential goods and services, including gasoline, in direct response to a disaster regardless of whether the emergency occurred in Tennessee or elsewhere. The price gouging law makes it unlawful to charge a price that is grossly in excess of the price charged prior to the emergency.

Funding received from the United Way of Sumner County Disaster Relief Fund will be distributed to eligible 501(c)3 non-profits and faith-based organizations providing local direct service to Sumner County victims for relief and recovery efforts due to the December 9, 2023 tornadoes. If you are an agency serving victims in Sumner County, click the button to apply.

NOTE: If you or your business was affected by the tornadoes, please visit the "Help for Disaster Relief Victims" section.

We have been blown away by the response from local business partners and individual donors who quickly responded to meet the needs of so many hurting neighbors who had been impacted by the December 9 storm!

Click here to read more about our disaster relief efforts, how much money has been raised, where the money raised is going, and how the money is helping victims.

Click here for FAQ regarding the 2023 UWSC Disaster Relief Fund.