WHAT IS FEMA?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a US government agency that is responsible for coordinating responses and support to local goverments, businesses, and even individuals in times of natural disaster and emergency.
APPLY FOR FEMA
When applying for FEMA assistance, residents will need to provide the following:
- A current phone number
- Address at the time of the disaster and current address
- Social Security number
- A general list of damage and losses
- Banking information for those who choose direct deposit
- If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name
For those with homeowners, renters’ or flood insurance, they should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If insurance policies do not cover all disaster expenses, federal assistance may be possible.
Common issues that can cause FEMA to deny a homeowner’s claim include proving ownership and proving that the disaster has caused so much damage to the home that it is not currently habitable.
FEMA Eligibility
FEMA has expanded its eligibility requirements for individual assistance to the following counties in North Carolina (click to expand):
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Less, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey counties and and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians were authorized for assistance.
Homeowners and renters who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Helene can apply for the disaster assistance, which can help with displacement, temporary housing, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.
- If your home was damaged by a major disaster, you may be eligible for repair assistance from FEMA. FEMA repair assistance is only intended to help you with basic repairs to make it safe to return to your home. FEMA is not intended to assist with all repairs or result in your home returning to its pre-disaster condition.
- FEMA also expects that you will soon return to your home and take steps to prevent further damage. For instance, if you have a hole in your roof, FEMA expects that you will place a tarp over it to prevent interior damage to your home.
You may be eligible for home repair assistance if:
- You or a household member is a U.S. citizen, non‐citizen national, or qualified alien Your home is in a declared disaster area
- You own your home
- Your home is uninhabitable or inaccessible due to the disaster
- Your home is not covered by insurance, or your insurance does not cover all your damage
- You were occupying your home as your primary residence at the time of the disaster
You may NOT be eligible if:
- You have other, adequate, rent-free housing available
- You refused assistance from your insurance
- You were required to maintain flood insurance after a previous disaster, but did not do so
Common issues that can cause FEMA to deny a homeowner’s claim include proving ownership and proving that the disaster has caused so much damage to the home that it is not currently habitable.
FEMA and Flood Insurance (click to expand)
- If any owner of a property receives FEMA assistance for a home that is located in a floodplain, FEMA will inform the homeowner that in the future, all owners of the home are required to keep flood insurance on the home. This requirement lasts as long as the home is still in a floodplain, and it applies to future owners as well. If the owner does not keep flood insurance on the home, and the home is damaged in another disaster, FEMA will deny assistance. This is true even if the current owner does not know about the flood insurance requirement.
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