Red Cross Assistance Extended! - February 4, 5, and 6 from 10AM-7PM - Lake Lure Baptist Church

In September and October 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged homes and businesses and disrupted many lives throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. In addition to shelter, food, relief supplies, and comfort for disaster survivors, the American Red Cross also provided immediate financial assistance to help people whose homes were severely impacted by the disaster purchase necessities like groceries and clothing. The first phase of financial assistance has closed.

The American Red Cross will begin a second phase of financial assistance in January 2025 for people in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, whose homes were severely impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This second phase of financial assistance will allow people to continue their recovery, and these funds can be used to help offset the costs of recovery-related needs or impact.

Learn More About Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this financial assistance, households must apply for the program and must meet all of the following requirements:  

• Applicant is the head of household and is not listed as a household member on any other application.
• Applicant’s pre-disaster primary residence suffered major damage or was destroyed. 
• Major damage is indicated by significant structural damage to a residence that requires extensive repairs. This may include substantial failure of the roof, walls or foundation.  
• A residence that is destroyed is one that is a total loss or with damage so extensive that repair is not feasible. 
•  Applicant needs financial assistance for unmet recovery needs resulting from the disaster. 
• Primary applicant’s identity and proof of residence details are confirmed.  

Enrollment

• The majority of households will receive an invitation to apply for assistance through an email, text message, or phone call directly from the Red Cross.
   
• People who fall into this category include those whose homes have been verified by the Red Cross or another vetted coordinating agency to have sustained major damage or have been destroyed.
• In addition, the Red Cross must have contact information for these households in order to contact them.
   

People who believe they meet the eligibility criteria above may also apply for the program in-person at enrollment sites. Please see below for details about where and when to enroll in your state.

The Red Cross may also work with partners and community advocates to reach people whose homes were destroyed or sustained major damage. This includes people who may face barriers to accessing disaster assistance such as people with limited English proficiency or have difficulty accessing services.   

After a household’s application is approved, Red Cross financial assistance will be delivered through one of several electronic funds transfer (EFT) methods including Mastercard Send, Zelle, PayPal, Walmart Direct2Cash; or through a Red Cross issued cash card. Each EFT method will ask for the following information:
 

• For PayPal, enter your PayPal account email to receive payment to associated debit card or bank account.
• For Mastercard Send and Zelle, enter your debit card information associated with any financial institution to receive payment directly to your account.
• For Walmart Direct2Cash, enter your email or mobile phone number that can receive text message to receive reference number to pick up cash at any Walmart store.

All Red Cross services, including financial assistance, are available to individuals regardless of nationality, race, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency and people do not need to be American citizens to receive our help. Red Cross financial assistance is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.   

For additional details visit: Hurricane Helene & Milton Bridge Financial Assistance | American Red Cross