Hurricane Helene FAQs

If you do not need to travel for an emergency reason, stay off the roadways. You can see the current roadway conditions by visiting DriveNC.Gov. 

Visit ReadyNC.Gov for sheltering information and follow your local government’s social media and website for more information. 

Damage assessments will be scheduled with impacted communities and counties where damage to homes, structures, and public infrastructure. This begins after any flood waters have receded and active response to life-safety hazards are completed. 

Meetings are promptly scheduled with local jurisdictions by state officials to outline the recovery process and to plan for debris management operations as soon as emergency response efforts are completed. 

The results of the damage assessments will lead to what disaster recovery avenues are eligible as outlined in state and federal law. Each state and federal disaster program are structured so that certain thresholds have to be met to determine eligibility. Damage assessments determine if those thresholds are met and what the extent on the damages are from the disaster. 

Residents with questions about the recovery process or Individual Assistance may email IARecovery@ncdps.gov. 

You should take photos of the damage and document what occurred and what your losses are. Then begin the clean-up process when it is safe to do so. 

This will be announced following the damage assessment process with local governments. Determinations are not a rapid process as the disaster assessments take time to ensure accuracy, which can benefit North Carolinians by activating further resources. 

Yes, you can contact Crisis Clean Up at 910-218-1569 and they can potentially assist with connecting you with volunteer organizations in your area that can be a resource. 

The term Public Assistance can be misleading. This type of disaster assistance is for local, state, and tribal governments in North Carolina. This type of assistance is not for residents and property owners. Public Assistance provides reimbursement to government entities for the damages incurred and costs of the response and recovery process. Like all disaster assistance avenues, there is a damage assessment and thresholds that must be met at all levels of government as prescribed by law. 

Individual Assistance is a disaster recovery avenue that provides direct financial assistance to residents and property owners whose primary residences are damaged or destroyed. This type of disaster assistance may be used for housing costs, repairs to your home, or other needs assistance which includes medical costs, funeral costs, personal property loss, and transportations etc. 

You may email IARecovery@ncdps.gov for questions or concerns about the Individual Assistance Program or disaster recovery. 

By finding reputable sources of public information such as state government websites and social media, and by following your local government’s website and social media. 

Visit DriveNC.Gov for the most up-to-date information on roadway conditions from the North Carolina Department of Transportation. You can also follow your local government’s social media pages or websites for updated information on roadway conditions.