Six weeks since President Obama declared a major federal disaster after Hurricane Matthew brought severe flooding to North Carolina, FEMA and its federal partners are working urgently to support the state and its residents as they rebuild their lives and communities.
As of Nov. 18, more than $152 million has been approved in federal grants, loans and flood insurance payments to those affected by the flooding.
More than 73,000 people in 45 counties have contacted FEMA for information or assistance. The agency has provided more than $76.4 million in grants, including $53.8 million for rent or repair of disaster-damaged housing. The National Flood Insurance Program has received more than 5,600 claims and paid more than $32.7 million to policyholders, including advance payments to help homeowners get started quickly on repairs. The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $41.4 million in disaster loans to enable more than 1,100 applicants to rebuild.
Federal agencies supporting the state include the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Small Business Administration, Department of Transportation, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Department of Energy, Geological Survey, Urban Search and Rescue and the National Weather Service.
Federal assistance takes many forms besides grants to individuals and households. In Princeville, survivors in public housing recently received housing choice vouchers from HUD to help them secure safe and sanitary housing in the private market after Hurricane Matthew flooding made their homes uninhabitable. HUD is working with the Winston-Salem and Princeville Housing Authorities to issue the vouchers. HUD also is working with public housing residents in Lumberton and other communities who lost their homes to flooding to help them find housing alternatives.
Disaster response involves the whole community, including local, state and federal agencies, the private sector, and nonprofit, voluntary and faith-based organizations.
The North Carolina Baptists on Mission, United Methodists, Catholic Charities, Mennonite Disaster Service, the United Way, the American Red Cross and dozens of other organizations are providing assistance to survivors who have unmet needs as a result of the disaster. Voluntary organizations provide a wide range of assistance to disaster survivors, including flood debris cleanup, shelter, food, clothing, counseling, home repairs and reconstruction. These organizations belong to the North Carolina chapter of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, a coalition of nonprofit organizations that respond to disasters.
As of Nov. 18:
More than $152 million in federal disaster funds have been approved, including:
- FEMA has approved more than $76.4 million in grants for a safe place to stay for homeowners and renters whose residences were uninhabitable and to make essential repairs for homes to be safe, sanitary and functional.
- More than $53.8 million in grants for housing assistance that includes:
- More than $36.9 million for eligible home repairs.
- More than $16.5 million in rental assistance.
- More than $22.5 million in grants to homeowners and renters to repair and replace certain household items and for disaster-related burial, medical and dental expenses.
- More than 1,400 households are checked into hotel rooms under the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
- Public Assistance has obligated more than $2.25 million in grants.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $41.4 million in low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and business owners to repair, rebuild and replace damaged property and contents.
- The National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $32.7 million in claims to NFIP policyholders to repair and rebuild flood-damaged property and contents.
- Nearly 17,000 survivors have visited state/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.
- More than 6,000 survivors have consulted with mitigation specialists at recovery centers for tips and techniques on building hazard-resistant homes.
- More than 53,000 FEMA housing inspections (98.5 percent) have been completed.
- FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams in the field have spoken with nearly 2,900 survivors and have visited more than 55,000 homes.
- More than 1,200 survivors have been helped by U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
Here’s how to register for help or to get more information:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
- Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.
For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.
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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.
Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.