Medical, dental and funeral assistance are available for tornado victims through FEMA. Applying for disaster assistance can cover those uninsured costs.
That also includes replacing medical equipment, dental equipment, breastfeeding equipment or prescribed medicine.
Covered funeral expenses include the cost to transfer remains, a casket or urn, death certificates and burial plots.
FEMA spokesperson Danny Bernardy says some evidence is needed to be able to apply.
“For eligibility, we would need an official state issued death certificate or a signed statement from a medical examiner or coroner stating that the death was directly related to the disaster,” he said. “And we would then also need evidence of an unmet funeral expense.”
Bernardy also says the agency can’t duplicate benefits.
“If something has been covered by Social Security or Veterans Affairs benefits, for example, we wouldn't be able to cover the same thing twice,” he said.
Victims in six counties, including Caldwell, Laurel, Pulaski, Russell, Trigg and Union can apply. They can visit a disaster recovery center, call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362, go online or download the agency’s mobile app.
