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Tennesseans who lost access to water through a private well or experienced damage to their septic systems due to Tropical Storm Helene may qualify for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA may cover the cost of hiring a licensed technician to assess and provide an estimate for repairs or replacement of disaster-damaged wells and septic systems. In addition to covering the technician’s estimate, FEMA may also pay for the actual costs of repairing or replacing these systems, which are often not covered by homeowner’s insurance.

During a home inspection, residents should inform the FEMA inspector of any damage to their private well or septic system caused by the storm. If an inspection has already occurred and the damage was not reported, residents are encouraged to contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center to update their application. Information on nearby recovery centers can be found through the DRC Locator at fema.gov.

To apply for FEMA assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call the FEMA Helpline. Helpline operators are available from 7 a.m. to midnight ET, seven days a week, and can assist in multiple languages. Relay services such as video relay or captioned telephone services are also supported.

For more details on Tennessee’s recovery efforts, visit tn.gov/tema or fema.gov/helene/tennessee. Follow FEMA on social media for the latest updates, including @FEMARegion4 and @FEMA_Deanne on X (formerly Twitter), or on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.