November
21, 2016
DR-4285-NC
NR
067
FEMA
News Desk: (404) 358-2776
News Release
North Carolina
in Recovery: Six Weeks After Hurricane Matthew
RALEIGH, N.C. – Six
weeks since President Obama declared a major federal disaster after Hurricane
Matthew brought severe flooding to North Carolina, FEMA and its federal
partners are working urgently to support the state and its residents as they
rebuild their lives and communities.
As of Nov. 18, more than $152 million has been approved
in federal grants, loans and flood insurance payments to those affected by the
flooding.
More than 73,000 people in 45 counties have contacted
FEMA for information or assistance. The agency has provided more than $76.4
million in grants, including $53.8 million for rent or repair of disaster-damaged
housing. The National Flood Insurance Program has received more than 5,600
claims and paid more than $32.7 million to policyholders, including advance
payments to help homeowners get started quickly on repairs. The U.S. Small
Business Administration has approved $41.4 million in disaster loans to enable more
than 1,100 applicants to rebuild.
Federal
agencies supporting the state include the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, Small Business Administration, Department of Transportation, Army
Corps of Engineers, Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental
Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Department of
Energy, Geological Survey, Urban Search and Rescue and the National Weather
Service.
Federal
assistance takes many forms besides grants to individuals and households. In
Princeville, survivors in public housing recently received housing choice
vouchers from HUD to help them secure safe and sanitary housing in the private
market after Hurricane Matthew flooding made their homes uninhabitable. HUD is
working with the Winston-Salem and Princeville Housing Authorities to issue the
vouchers. HUD also is working with public housing residents in Lumberton and
other communities who lost their homes to flooding to help them find housing
alternatives.
(MORE)
North Carolina
in Recovery: Six Weeks After Hurricane Matthew-Page 2
Disaster response involves the whole
community, including local, state and federal agencies, the private sector, and
nonprofit, voluntary and faith-based organizations.
The
North Carolina Baptists on Mission, United Methodists, Catholic Charities, Mennonite
Disaster Service, the United Way, the American Red Cross and dozens of other
organizations are providing assistance to survivors who have unmet needs as a
result of the disaster. Voluntary organizations provide a wide range of
assistance to disaster survivors, including flood debris cleanup, shelter,
food, clothing, counseling, home repairs and reconstruction. These
organizations belong to the North Carolina chapter of the National Voluntary
Organizations Active in Disasters, a coalition of nonprofit organizations that
respond to disasters.
As
of Nov. 18:
More than $152
million in federal disaster funds have been approved, including:
·
FEMA
has approved more than $76.4 million in grants for a safe place to stay for homeowners
and renters whose residences were uninhabitable and to make essential repairs
for homes to be safe, sanitary and functional.
·
More
than $53.8 million in grants for housing assistance that includes:
o More than $36.9
million for eligible home repairs.
o More than $16.5
million in rental assistance.
·
More
than $22.5 million in grants to homeowners and renters to repair and replace
certain household items and for disaster-related burial, medical and dental
expenses.
·
More
than 1,400 households are checked into hotel rooms under the Transitional
Sheltering Assistance program.
·
Public
Assistance has obligated more than $2.25 million in grants.
·
The
U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $41.4 million in
low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and business owners to
repair, rebuild and replace damaged property and contents.
·
The
National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $32.7 million in claims to
NFIP policyholders to repair and rebuild flood-damaged property and contents.
·
Nearly
17,000 survivors have visited state/FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers.
·
More
than 6,000 survivors have consulted with mitigation specialists at recovery
centers for tips and techniques on building hazard-resistant homes.
·
More
than 53,000 FEMA housing inspections (98.5 percent) have been completed.
·
FEMA
Disaster Survivor Assistance teams in the field have spoken with nearly 2,900
survivors and have visited more than 55,000 homes.
·
More
than 1,200 survivors have been helped by U.S. Housing and Urban Development.
(MORE)
North Carolina
in Recovery: Six Weeks After Hurricane Matthew-Page 2
Here’s
how to register for help or to get more information:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video
Relay Service (VRS). 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.
For more information on the
North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and
readync.org.
Follow FEMA on Twitter
@femaregion4 and North
Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.
###
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 www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and
hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.
