People toss buckets of water out of a home after hurricane Helene brought heavy rains and flooding to the southeastern U.S. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
Homeowners and renters in 24 counties in western North Carolina and members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance following historic flooding due to Hurricane Helene, the N.C. Housing Coalition reported Tuesday.
Eligible counties include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties.
FEMA is taking applications for its Individual Assistance Program, which includes money for emergency housing at hotels and emergency supplies such as water, food, first aid, breastfeeding supplies, personal hygiene items and fuel for transportation.
The coalition shared disaster recovery information and other news during its weekly housing call. It’s asking individuals and organizations able to provide information regarding assistance for recovery to click here.
Stephanie Watkins-Cruz (Photo: NC Housing Coalition)
“We are working on putting together a resource for the centralized database that is going to include several other centralized resources that are created by people on the ground.” said Stephanie Watkins-Cruz, the coalition’s housing director. “We just want to try and be sort of one central location for folks to find out how they can help, and where they can donate or how folks in the west can get assistance in the coming weeks as we move out of the rescue phase and move into recovery.”
Here is what residents in eligible counties need to know about available FEMA benefits:
There is a $750 benefit that is active and available IMMEDIATELY, as well as support — To apply: Call 800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov for more information or to get started on an application. For information on the process, click here.
Here is an accessible video on how to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance.
Homeowners or renters with flood insurance MUST file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate coverage. If your insurance does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.
Watkins-Cruz noted that it’s important for homeowners and renters to apply for assistance within the first 30 days after a disaster is declared. FEMA can extend the deadline to 60 days if a state or tribal nation request it in writing, she said.
It’s also important to file insurance claims quickly, Watkins-Cruz said.
“If you do have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim also with insurance as soon as possible because FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses that are covered by insurance,” Watkins-Cruz said.
NC Newsline recently published a list of organizations where individuals can make donations to help those impacted by the storm.
Here’s that list:
North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund
Donations made to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund will go to nonprofits working to meet the immediate needs of storm victims such as food and water, cleaning supplies and other emergency supplies. All of the donations made will go to disaster relief.
United Way of North Carolina is the fiscal agent for the Fund and will provide grants and reimbursement to nonprofits working in impacted communities.
• Donate: https://pay.payitgov.com/nc
• Donations can also be mailed to:
NC Disaster Relief Fund, 20312 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-0312.
Or NC Disaster Relief Fund, c/o United Way of NC, 1130 Kildaire Farm Road, Suite 100, Cary NC 27511.
American Red Cross
• Donate: https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html/
• Other options for donating: Call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or Text HELENE to 90999
Samaritan’s Purse
Samaritan’s Purse mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters in the United States.
• Learn more and donate to Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts:https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/pray-for-those-in-helenes-path/
The Salvation Army of the Carolinas
• Donate: https://give.helpsalvationarmy.org/give/166081/#!/donation/checkout
• To donate by phone: Call 1-800-SAL-ARMY
Baptists on Mission
Baptists on Mission is responding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in the mountains of western North Carolina. They’ve set up feeding units at First Baptist Boone and Biltmore Baptist in Arden. In addition, they are setting up recovery sites in Boone, Spruce Pine, Hendersonville and Marion.
• To make a donation by check, make the check payable to Baptists on Mission, PO Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512. Designate on your check to Hurricane Helene Response.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen teams are in four states serving meals and assessing food needs for communities in the southeastern US after Hurricane Helene. WCK teams are scouting in Tennessee and North Carolina to find the biggest areas of need. With many roads rendered impassable into cities like Asheville, WCK is exploring all options to reach isolated communities.
• Donate: https://donate.wck.org/give/499865/#!/donation/checkout
Operation Airdrop Based at Concord Regional Airport
Operation Airdrop is a Texas-based 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to providing rapid relief to communities impacted by natural disasters.
Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the organization mobilizes volunteer pilots and a diverse fleet of aircraft to deliver essential supplies to areas cut off from traditional aid routes.
• Donate: https://www.operation-airdrop.com/hurricane-helene
North Carolina Community Foundation
The North Carolina Community Foundation is encouraging donations to groups that are working to address immediate health, humanitarian and safety needs in western North Carolina in the wake of the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. NCCF is accepting donations for its Disaster Relief Fund, which supports mid- to long-term recovery efforts when North Carolina faces a disaster.
• Donate: https://nccf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=16903