The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved $54 million to the North Carolina Office of Emergency Management for instituting the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) program following Hurricane Florence, which struck the area in September 2018.
The STEP program, which is free to participating eligible homeowners in 12 counties, was instituted at the request of North Carolina Emergency Management. This program provides partial, temporary repairs so Hurricane Florence survivors can return to their homes while longer-term repairs continue.
The program funds are used for project management, materials needed for repair and construction contracts, where needed.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state and local governments, and to certain types of private nonprofit organizations to reimburse for the cost of debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures and permanent repair work to damaged infrastructure.
FEMA’s Public Assistance is a cost-sharing program that reimburses applicants at least 75 percent of eligible costs and the remaining costs are covered by the State of North Carolina. FEMA’s share for the STEP program was $40.5 million.
For more information on North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Florence, visit ncdps.gov/Florence and FEMA.gov/Disaster/4393. Follow us on Twitter:
@NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.
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