FEMA Update
News Release
North Carolina: FEMA Continues to Work with Helene Survivors for Transitional Sheltering Assistance Eligibility Non- eligible survivors will now have 21 days’ notice before having to vacate hotels.
HICKORY, N.C. – This weekend, FEMA began contacting Tropical Storm Helene survivors who are staying in hotel rooms paid for by FEMA to ensure their continued need for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
The short-term sheltering program pays for hotel rooms for homeowners and renters displaced by Helene while they find permanent housing solutions or make repairs to their homes. To date, almost 13,000 Western North Carolina
survivor households have used the program. A key part of the program’s management are eligibility reviews. These reviews occur every two weeks and ensure that available rooms are being used by those in need.
“I want to be clear, this program is not ending for Western North Carolina,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Brett Howard. “We understand the great need survivors have at the time and this program will last as long as necessary.
That said, the length of eligibility for an individual survivor will be based on their individual circumstances. FEMA staff are working daily with survivors and on their cases to help them find permanent housing solutions.”
Due to the extenuating circumstances in Western North Carolina, FEMA representatives will be calling any survivors who may become ineligible, to work with them and to give them additional time to check out of their hotel room.
Now, Instead of seven days, survivors who are no longer eligible for the program will have three-weeks’ notice.
The following conditions indicate a survivor or household no longer needs this assistance:
• A home inspection indicated no eligible damages to a home or rental unit caused by Helene.
• A home inspection determined their home is now habitable.
• FEMA has been unable, after multiple attempts from case worker or inspector, to reach the survivor.
• A survivor has missed multiple home inspections.
• A survivor withdrew from FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.
• A survivor was unhoused prior to the disaster.
After a review of FEMA’s eligibility, out of the 2,700 households checked in, approximately 740 are no longer eligible to remain in the TSA program. FEMA is in contact with these individuals to let them know that they are no longer eligible and that they need to relocate. If any family feels they are eligible and that they need to remain in the program, we urge them to contact us immediately.
Survivors who still need assistance with their recovery should stay in touch with FEMA to provide regular updates on their housing status and update contact information, so their recovery process is not delayed. Anyone who has received a notification and still needs housing assistance, should call the helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. No appointment is needed and to find those center locations, go to fema.gov/drc or text "DRC” and a ZIP code to 43362.
FEMA has provided more than $316 million in cash grants to Western North Carolina survivors, including more than $6.2 million in rental assistance. The U.S. Small Business Administration has also approved more than $213 million in low-interest loans to help survivors. Those loans are 0% interest for the first year. FEMA, the state of North Carolina, other federal agencies and volunteer organizations continue working with families to help them begin their
recovery.
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For the latest information about North Carolina’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA Region 4
@FEMARegion4 on X or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or
FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel. Also, follow Administrator Deanne Criswell
on X @FEMA_Deanne.
Learn more at fema.gov/disaster/4827
FEMA Updates 1/31/25
- DR-4827-NC Disaster Fact Sheet (DFS079) Jan 31 2025
State and FEMA teams are visiting hotels and motels to make every effort possible to reach survivors lodging through the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program and help them transition to other housing options. If you are staying in FEMA-provided hotel/motel rooms, FEMA must connect with you to discuss your progress in finding a more permanent housing solution.
One-day Agriculture Recovery Centers are operating in Western North Carolina to help agricultural workers recover from Helene. An event is taking place today, Jan. 31 in Watauga County. Additional events will happen next week in Avery, Burke, Mitchell and Yancey counties. These centers are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/AGHelene
Disaster Recovery Centers are open in 12 counties to help survivors apply for assistance, answer questions and provide access to resources from other agencies. To find center locations go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a ZIP Code to 43362. You can also apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
By the Numbers
- $339 million approved to 150,000+ households and individuals beginning their recovery.
- This includes more than $6.9 million in rental assistance to help individuals and families rent a home or apartment.
- $318 million in Public Assistance funding approved to support community recovery.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is still accepting low-interest loan applications. To date, $97.9 million in disaster loans have been paid directly to North Carolina survivors.
- FEMA is providing multiple temporary housing options to meet North Carolinians’ individual needs. The first step to receiving housing assistance is applying with FEMA.
- More than 2,642 households are using Transitional Sheltering Assistance hotels and motels.
- 155 households have been placed in temporary housing units provided by FEMA Direct Temporary Housing Assistance.
- FEMA has contracted with 22 commercial parks to be able to place units and the agency is working with one other park for potential contracting purposes.
More than 3.7 million cubic yards of debris has been removed from public rights of way by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors.
More than $50.3 million in federal unemployment benefits have been provided to 10,000+ survivors. For more information, call the unemployment assistance hotline at 919-629-3857 (for Spanish call 919-276-5698) or to register online, visit: www.des.nc.gov.
Applied for FEMA Assistance? Read Your FEMA Letter Carefully
- If you applied for disaster assistance with FEMA, you will receive a letter explaining your application status. If you are not currently approved for assistance, you may need to send additional documentation to FEMA. You can easily upload documents to Disasterassistance.gov or submit them at a Disaster Recovery Center.
Appeal a FEMA Decision
You can appeal any FEMA decision or award amount by sending additional documents, like estimates for repairs, receipts, bills, etc., that show you qualify and need more help. Each decision letter from FEMA explains why you are ineligible and the types of documents to help you appeal. For more details, please visit: www.fema.gov/blog/how-appeal-femas-decision-step-step-guide.
FEMA Individual Assistance for Privately Owned Roads and Bridges
Money to repair private roads and bridges is available to homeowners for primary residences in the form of home repair assistance. Initial award amounts are based upon averages. FEMA will pay the actual cost of repair up to the FEMA maximum grant amount. To date, FEMA has awarded more than $13.1 million for repair or replacement of roads and bridges to 4,500+ families.
Crisis Counseling, Mental Health Resources Available for Helene Survivors
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Hope4NC Crisis Counseling Program provides immediate support and crisis counseling services for North Carolinians following Helene. Survivors experiencing stress, emotional fatigue, a mental health crisis or just need someone to talk to, can call the Hope4NC Helpline 24/7 at 855-587-3463. Services are free and available to anyone in the declared 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Additional Disaster Resources
NC Department of Public Safety (DPS) Tropical Storm Helene Resources Page: www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.
North Carolina Office of the Governor: Gov. Josh Stein www.governor.state.nc.us.
United Way’s NC 211 is a multilingual, confidential service that provides health and human services information and referrals through a free statewide phone number (2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from an out-of-state area code) and website www.nc211.org.North Carolina State and Local Level Referrals: www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/disaster-survivors/state-local-referral-lists/north-carolina.
