North Carolina Helene Recovery
Feb. 10, 2025
On Friday, Feb. 7, Administrator Hamilton met with state and federal officials for a briefing at the Joint Field Office in Hickory, talked with FEMA employees, then viewed damage in Burnsville and Black Mountain. On Saturday, Feb. 8, Secretary Noem and Administrator Hamilton viewed damage in Asheville, Swannanoa and were briefed on progress in North Carolina debris removal.
By the Numbers
$372.3 million approved for 154,577 households, including money for rent, basic home repairs and other
disaster-caused needs. Additional applications are being received daily. Don’t wait. Apply now.
$379 million in Public Assistance funding approved to support community recovery.
13,250 families have stayed in FEMA-paid hotel rooms.
3,300 households have received rental assistance.
$112.2 million approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration in low-interest disaster loans. Deadline for
applications extended to March 8.
Temporary housing:
o 2,057 households are using Transitional Sheltering Assistance hotels and motels.
o 158 households are living in temporary housing units.
5,203 families have received $15.6 million for repair or replacement of private-access roads and bridges.
4 million cubic yards of debris has been cleared from public rights of ways and waterways, 2.8 million by state contractors and 1.2 million by federal contractors.
FEMA Disaster Fact Sheet 083
Learn more at www.fema.gov/disaster/4827 Feb. 10, 2025 2
The Corps’ waterway debris mission has removed more than 56,000 cubic yards and continues in Lake Lure,
Buncombe County, Polk County and Chimney Rock.
$50.8 million in federal disaster unemployment benefits have been provided to more than 10,454 applicants.
$110 million paid in claims by the National Flood Insurance Program.
Disaster Recovery Centers Can Help
To apply in person or get face-to-face assistance with an application or appeal, visit a Disaster Recovery Center. You
can visit any recovery center, even in another state. To find your nearest Disaster Recovery Center, visit
fema.gov/drc.
Applied for FEMA Assistance? Read Your FEMA Letter Carefully
If you applied for disaster assistance from 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 upload
documents to DisasterAssistance.gov or submit them at a Disaster Recovery Center.
Additional Disaster Resources
The Disaster Unemployment Assistance deadline has been extended to March 10, 2025. To file a claim
online go to the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Employment Security webpage:
www.des.nc.gov. You may also file by calling 888-737-0258.
The Internal Revenue Service has extended tax filing to May 1, 2025. www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announcestax-relief-for-victims-of-hurricane-helene-in-north-carolina-various-deadlines-postponed-to-may-1-2025.
NC Department of Public Safety Tropical Storm Helene Resources Page: www.ncdps.gov/ourorganization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.
The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative is helping small businesses affected by Helene. To learn
more, visit appalachiancommunitycapitalcdfi.org/wnscb-grant/.
United Way’s NC 211 is a multilingual, confidential service that provides health and human services
information and referrals through a free statewide phone number (2-1-1 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from an
out-of-state area code) and website www.nc211.org. North Carolina State and Local Level Referrals can be
found at: www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/disaster-survivors/state-local-referral-lists/north-carolina.
Survivors who are 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. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline is 800-985-5990.