One Week Left for North Carolina Survivors to Register with FEMA

DURHAM, N.C. – You’ve got just one week left to register for disaster assistance grants from FEMA and to submit applications for low-interest disaster loans to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

 

You have until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 to file for federal assistance following the flooding caused by Hurricane Matthew. Registering with FEMA is the first step to find out if you may be eligible for federal help.

 

Don’t wait any longer. Register even if you may think you are not eligible for federal or state funding. Rebuilding takes time and it may give you peace of mind to know there is help available.

 

Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, emergency home repairs to make your home habitable, and for other disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental services, transportation and funeral costs. These grants are not taxable income and will not affect your Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare and other federal and state programs.

 

Here’s how to register:

• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
• Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

 

Four FEMA/North Carolina Emergency Management Disaster Recovery Centers remain open. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sundays. Here are the locations:

 

 

Cumberland County DRC                              Robeson County DRC

Dept. of Social Services                                  Old Kmart store

1225 Ramsey Street                                       2750 N. Roberts Ave.

Fayetteville, NC 28301                                   Lumberton, NC 28358

 

Edgecombe County DRC                               Wayne County DRC 

Edgecombe County Health Dept.              W.A. Foster Recreation Center

3003 N. Main Street                                       1012 S. John St., Room 110.2

Tarboro, NC 27886                                         Goldsboro, NC 27530

 

At the DRCs FEMA representatives can help you register, answer questions and update your information. SBA representatives also are available to answer any questions you may have about obtaining a low-interest disaster loan.

 

If you have been contacted by SBA, it is important to return your completed application as soon as possible or you may lose eligibility for further FEMA assistance. For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.  TTY users may call 800-877-8339. You may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline to file an SBA physical disaster loan application also is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9.

 

If you have questions regarding FEMA registration or have not yet registered for assistance, call the FEMA Helpline (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call     800-462-7585) or visit DisasterAssistance.gov. The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. EDT seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available.

 

Once you have registered with FEMA, stay in touch. If you change your address or phone number you should let FEMA know. Missing or wrong information could result in delays getting a home inspection or in receiving assistance.

 

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @NCEmergency.

 

 

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

 

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

 

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.