Federal aid is available for North Carolinians affected by Helene. Here’s how to apply.

By Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

Updated December 31, 2024 11:16 AM

Hurricane Helene Aftermath

Hurricane Helene swept across the Southeast, causing major flooding and destruction throughout North Carolina. Here is ongoing coverage from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer about Hurricane Helene and the aftermath, particularly in Western North Carolina.

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When a hurricane such as Helene strikes, one of the first forms of federal aid available is through FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

This agency provides disaster assistance before, during and after a disaster, including via help for individuals and families affected.

Events declared disasters by the president are eligible for help from FEMA, and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper requested a major disaster declaration. President Joe Biden approved the declaration.

A rescue team paddles down the Swannanoa River on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. The remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in western North Carolina. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

Federal help is available for 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and on Dec. 30, FEMA extended the deadline to apply until Feb. 6.

The declaration means that FEMA can expedite help for the state, reimburse local governments, state agencies and nonprofits for funds spent on repairs and provide individual assistance for people affected.

Forms of aid for individuals through FEMA can include funds for temporary housing (for rental assistance or covering hotel costs), repairs and rebuilding of homes, or other needs such as medical expenses, damage to an essential vehicle, funeral expenses, child care expenses and more.

Soldiers assigned to the N.C. National Guard 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment airlift stranded citizens from Avery County to Hickory. U.S. National Guard aviation crews from Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Iowa are supporting the N.C. National Guard. NC National Guard

The counties approved for aid are Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey, according to FEMA.

Residents in Clyde begin cleaning up on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 after massive flooding damaged dozens of homes and businesses. The remnants of Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages in western North Carolina. Travis Long tlong@newsobserver.com

How to apply for FEMA assistance

As for how to apply for individual aid, there are multiple ways you can do so.

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
Via the FEMA App
By calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily.

If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, you should provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service.

FEMA does not provide aid for losses already covered by insurance, so the agency recommends immediately filing a claim with your insurance company if you have insurance. You do not need to file your insurance claim before applying for FEMA aid, but will be required to provide FEMA with insurance settlement details or denials for some forms of assistance, according to the FEMA website.

Be sure to take pictures of damage to your home and personal property before any cleanup or repairs. Document all the information you can.

FEMA aid is available for U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, or qualified noncitizens such as legal permanent residents, refugees and more.

Renters and small business owners may also be eligible for federal help through the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA), which provides disaster loans.

What is needed for the application

For the FEMA application, here’s what you need:

Social Security number
Annual household income
Contact information such as your phone number, mailing address, email address and the damaged home address
Bank account information
Insurance information

After applying for aid, an inspection might be required, in which a FEMA employee comes to survey damage to your home and personal property. FEMA may also request more information. After the review, FEMA will notify you of any aid you are eligible for. You can appeal the decision.

For more immediate emergency assistance, contact 911.

For shelter, visit the American Red Cross, or Salvation Army, or by texting SHELTER and your zip code (for example, “SHELTER 01234”) to 4FEMA (43362).

For local aid options, call 2-1-1.

FEMA is just one form of federal aid. More aid is often provided by other agencies, including through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Be sure to be on the lookout for other federal aid and other local and statewide aid that may become available.

This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 1:33 PM.

Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi

The News & Observer

Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi is a politics reporter for the News & Observer. She reports on health care, including mental health and Medicaid expansion, hurricane recovery efforts and lobbying. Luciana previously worked as a Roy W. Howard Fellow at Searchlight New Mexico, an investigative news organization.