ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — FEMA has approved an additional $428 million for North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene recovery efforts for individuals and governmental usage.
Of the approved aid, $225 million is earmarked for about 123,000 households and individuals in direct financial assistance. The other $203 million is slated to be handed off to the state for community rebuilding projects.
FEMA is accepting appeals if you think your awarded aid was insufficient. If you believe you need more aid, click here for more information. Be sure to include receipts and other materials that show expenses in excess of what FEMA has already awarded you.
If you haven’t yet applied for assistance, FEMA says applications are still available for need-based aid, with the deadline for applications extended to Jan. 7, 2025. To apply, visit disasterassistance.gov or call 800-621-3362.
The Cane Creek Disaster Recovery Center was closed Friday and has been replaced by a new center in Asheville Mall at 3 South Tunnel Road. The Asheville Mall Disaster Recovery Center can help people apply for financial assistance, small business loans and more.
Temporary housing options are planned to continue, according to FEMA. The federal agency is already providing temporary housing for more than 4,450 households in 25 North Carolina counties. If you need housing assistance, visit FEMA’s Direct Temporary Housing Assistance website.
If you need legal assistance with disaster-related problems, Legal Aid for North Carolina is offering free legal services to homeowners and renters on how to proceed with insurance claims and other legal questions.
If you are out of work in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, FEMA is hiring locals to help with recovery efforts. To apply for these positions, visit USAJOBS and type in the keywords search bar “FEMA” and list the location as “North Carolina.” Available locations may include Asheville, Raleigh and Hickory.