ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — FEMA is closing its Disaster Recovery Center at Asheville Mall and opening two others in Buncombe County as area residents continue to grapple with issues related to Tropical Storm Helene.

The DRC at Asheville Mall will close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, with new centers in Buncombe County opening the same day at the Fairview Library (1 Taylor Road, Fairview) and Weaverville Town Hall (30 South Main St., Weaverville).

The center at Asheville Mall was fairly busy Wednesday morning, and several FEMA workers there said they would be making the move to one of the other sites.

According to FEMA reports, officials have so far approved $328 million for 147,000-plus households and individuals beginning their recovery.

The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is Feb. 6. You can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov or in person at any of the Disaster Recovery Centers. Click here to find an open center near you. Hours at all locations are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

One-day Agriculture Recovery Centers are also underway to help North Carolina farmers recover from Helene damage. Events are set for Thursday and Friday in Buncombe and Watauga counties, respectively. Additional sessions are set for Feb. 4 in Burke County and Feb. 5 in Avery County. Others are planned for Ashe, Mitchell and Yancey counties. All are open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Click here to learn more.

There’s also a free legal clinic set for Feb. 1 at the Henderson County DRC at 2111 Asheville Highway, Hendersonville. Volunteer attorneys will be available to assist with FEMA claims, appeals and landlord/tenant issues. Click here to register for a time slot.

North Carolina Helene recovery by the numbers

  • $328 million approved to 147,000+ households and individuals beginning their recovery. That includes money to help rent a home or apartment as survivors begin their recovery.
  • $318 million in Public Assistance funding approved to support community recovery.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration is still accepting low-interest loan applications. To date 15,000+ loan applications have been received, with 3,101 approved for more than $246 million. Of that, $92 million in low-interest disaster loans have been paid directly to North Carolina survivors.
  • FEMA is providing multiple temporary housing options to meet North Carolinians’ individual needs. The first step to receiving housing assistance is applying with FEMA.
    More than 2,645 households are using Transitional Sheltering Assistance hotels and motels.
    152 households have been placed in temporary housing units provided by FEMA Direct Temporary Housing Assistance.
    FEMA has contracted with 20 commercial parks to be able to place units and the agency is working with 4 other parks for potential contracting purposes.
  • FEMA has awarded more than $12.8 million for repair or replacement of roads and bridges to 4,500+ families.
  • More than 3.6 million cubic yards of debris has been removed from public rights of way by FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors.
  • More than $50.2 million in federal unemployment benefits have been provided to 9,000+ survivors. For more information, call the unemployment assistance hotline at 919-629-3857 (for Spanish call 919-276-5698).

Applied for FEMA assistance? Read your FEMA letter carefully

If you applied for disaster assistance with FEMA, you will receive a letter explaining your application status. If you are not currently approved for assistance, you may need to send additional documentation to FEMA. You can easily upload documents to Disasterassistance.gov or submit them at a Disaster Recovery Center.

Crisis counseling, mental health resources available for Helene survivors

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Hope4NC Crisis Counseling Program provides immediate support and crisis counseling services for North Carolinians following Helene. Survivors experiencing stress, emotional fatigue, a mental health crisis or just need someone to talk to, can call the Hope4NC Helpline 24/7 at 855-587-3463. Services are free and available to anyone in the declared 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline is available anytime to provide support. Survivors and responders feeling overwhelmed can call or text 800-985-5990 to receive free, confidential support in any language.