DURHAM – The deadline for registering with FEMA has passed, but that does not mean FEMA is leaving.
Much work remains to be done in North Carolina and FEMA continues working with North Carolina Emergency Management to help survivors and communities recover. Three disaster recovery centers are still open in Cumberland, Edgecombe and Robeson counties.
For those who have registered for assistance, FEMA encourages them to keep in touch to track their claim or to notify the agency of changes to their mailing or email addresses or phone numbers, and to report insurance settlements or additional damage they may have discovered since their home inspection.
There are three ways to reach FEMA:
• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY can call 800-462-7585.
• Download the FEMA Mobile App. The application deadline for a U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan also has passed. For information, call the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@SBA.gov or visit SBA’s website at sba.gov/disaster. Those who are deaf, hard-of-hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY can call 800-877-8339.
As of the end of the registration period, Monday, Jan. 23:
• More than 80,700 survivors have contacted FEMA for assistance.
• More than $90.1 million has been approved for individuals and families.
• More than $84.2 million in SBA low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters and business owners has been approved.
• More than 5,700 National Flood Insurance Program claims have been submitted.
• Nearly $134 million total amounts has been paid on approved NFIP claims.
More than 28,000 people have visited the centers located throughout the 45 designated counties to receive information and advice for their recovery. In addition, Disaster Survivor Assistance teams have visited more than 84,000 homes and talked to almost 44,000 survivors about how FEMA can help in recovery efforts, to answer survivors’ questions and, if needed, to assist with helping survivors register. Public assistance work is well underway with its task of reimbursing state, tribal and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for their recovery work.
To date, more than $8 million has been obligated. The Public Assistance program is administered by NCEM and funded by FEMA.
For more information on North Carolina’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org.