Post-storm recovery advice for those displaced, affected

JACKSON, Tenn. — In the aftermath of the severe storm that swept through West Tennessee, communities are beginning the recovery process.

The road ahead for disaster victims may still be challenging. Here is some post-storm recovery advice to help residents through this difficult time.

If you haven’t already, contact your insurance agency, mortgage lender and credit card company to inform them of your situation. Also, check with your utility companies to see if you can shut off services until your home is livable again.

We also reached out to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency who shared a few things residents should consider.

“The number one thing is to document damages before starting cleanup. So, we encourage individuals to take photos or videos of any damages that are to their homes, or property and to their belongings, and to make a note of all of those losses. Those pieces are critical when it comes to filing insurance claims or reporting it to their local emergency management agency,” said Hardeman County Sheriff John Doolen.

Several government agencies offer assistance for storm victims.

FEMA offers a 24-hour disaster distress helpline. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance provides information on how to file insurance claims and avoiding scams.

TEMA provides a crisis cleanup hotline that helps with debris, fallen trees and more.

As homeowners are looking for contractors to help rebuild their homes, it’s important to recognize that there are scammers out there who are looking for residents during their worst times.

“One of the problems starts when the contractor approaches you instead of you reaching out to a contractor, and you know, of course these people don’t have business licenses, so they’re coming down here just to try to take advantage, and that’s what you got to look at,” said Sheriff Doolen.

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