North Carolina Tropical Storm Helene

Page last updated: 10/07/2024

North Carolina Tropical Storm Helene (DR- 4827)

Tropical Storm Helene struck North Carolina on September 25, 2024. On September 28, 2024, President Biden declared a major disaster.

People in the following areas are eligible to receive federal disaster assistance:

Alexander County
Alleghany County
Ashe County
Avery County
Buncombe County
Burke County
Caldwell County
Catawba County
Clay County
Cleveland County
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina
Gaston County
Haywood County
Henderson County

Jackson County
Lincoln County
Macon County
Madison County
Mecklenburg County¹
McDowell County
Mitchell County
Polk County
Rutherford County
Swain County¹
Transylvania County
Watauga County
Wilkes County
Yancey County

¹ These counties were added on October 4, 2024.

For the complete whitehouse.gov press release, please click here.

Important Deadlines

FEMA Application Deadline

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

More Info

Appeal your FEMA decision letter

Within 60 days of the date on the determination letter.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment

Monday, December 2, 2024

As of October 1, 2024, only survivors in the following Counties are eligible:

Alexander
Alleghany
Ashe
Avery
Buncombe
Burke
Caldwell
Catawba
Clay
Cleveland
Gaston
Haywood
Henderson

Jackson

Lincoln

Macon

Madison

McDowell

Mitchell

Polk

Rutherford

Transylvania

Watauga

Wilkes

Yancey

Additionally, Disaster Unemployment has been approved for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.

More Info

Automatic SNAP Replacement

Survivors in 23 northwestern counties were approved for automatic SNAP replacement, equal to 70% of their normal monthly benefit. No further action is required.

More Info

SNAP Hot Food Waiver

FNS participants statewide will be able to purchase hot food using their FNS benefits through Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024

More Info

FEMA Assistance

Applying for Assistance

Applications for FEMA Assistance can be submitted by:

Phone: Contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585.

Online: Fill out the application at DisasterAssistance.gov

In-Person: You can also fill out the application at a FEMA Disaster Resource Center (DRC).

Mobile Registration Intake Center: MRICs move around regularly. They will be in an area for a short period of time to help survivors who need registration help. Visit FEMA’s Disaster Declaration page to find more information about the Mobile Registration Intake Center locations and hours.

Disaster Recovery Center: To find a Disaster Recovery Center near you, use the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s DRC locator or text “DRC” and your zip code to 43362 (4FEMA) to locate a Disaster Recovery Center in your area.

What to Expect After You Apply for FEMA Assistance

Created by FEMA, this handout provides a basic overview what to expect after you have applied for assistance.

also available in:

Español

FEMA Fact Sheet: Returning to In- Home Inspections

As of June 1, 2022, FEMA reinstituted verification of disaster-caused losses through in-person home inspections. Multiple virtual methods were used to inspect survivor homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Disaster survivors’ health and safety remain FEMA’s priority so the agency will retain the ability to conduct inspections without entering the home.

This link will take you to FEMA’s fact sheet on in- home inspections.

Resources

Safety & Shelter Resources

Please check your local news and local officials for the latest safety and shelter resources.

Access information on Safety and Shelter assistance through the resources below.

American Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery Services

Explore resources from the American Red Cross on how to stay safe and recover from a disaster.

Website

Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) Locator

FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. You may also visit to ask questions about your case. The DRC Locator helps you find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you.

Website

Disaster and Disability Hotline

The Disability & Disaster Hotline, run by the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, offers help to people with disabilities and their families during emergencies. The hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and other resources for those impacted by disasters. Whether you’re a person with a disability, a family member, an organization assisting people with disabilities, or anyone else with pressing disaster-related needs, the hotline can connect you to support.

The Disaster Hotline is always available for intake calls, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The link below will take you to the Partnership’s disaster hotline landing page.

Organization

Legal Assistance

A free legal help hotline is now available for North Carolina Hurricane Helene survivors. Survivors can call 1-866-219-5262 for aid. Hotline hours are from 8:30 AM through 1:30 PM weekdays, plus 5:30 thru 8:30 PM on Mondays and Thursdays.

Survivors over age 60 can also call the Senior Helpline toll- free at 1-877-579-7562 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM and 1:00 to 3:00 PM weekdays. Click here for more information.

The North Carolina Supreme Court approved a temporary rule amendment allowing lawyers not licensed in North Carolina to immediately begin providing pro bono legal services to indigent victims of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Helene. This rule will expire in January, 2025. For more information, please see the complete press release here.

Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.

(866) 219-5262

224 S. Dawson St.
Raleigh, NC 27601

Provides free civil legal services to low-income people.

Organization

North Carolina State Bar

(919) 828-4620

217 East Edenton Street
Raleigh, NC 27601

Professional association of lawyers.

Organization

Introducing: Disaster Legal Services

The American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to create Disaster Legal Services (DLS) — a program designed to help survivors navigate the aftermath of presidentially- declared disasters. The DLS program provides immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors—at no charge.

Issues where DLS can help include:

Insurance Claims
New Wills
Powers of Attorney
Other Legal Papers Lost During the Disaster
Problems with Landlords
FEMA Appeals
Home Repair Contracts and Contractor Fraud

Learn more through this short video.

Video

ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Hotline

(888) 743-5749

To help meet the growing legal needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division has teamed up with RingCentral Inc. to create a national hotline to connect the Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) with those seeking civil legal services.

Organization