Support for North Carolina
Financial Support: FEMA has approved
more than $32 million in housing and other types of assistance for over
27,000 households.
Staffing: As response efforts continue in North Carolina,
more than 800 FEMA staff are on the ground, with more arriving daily. Over
1,200 Urban Search and Rescue personnel remain in the field helping people. These teams have
rescued or supported over 3,200 survivors to date. In a move to strengthen recovery operations in Western North Carolina, President Biden has ordered an additional
500active-duty troops equipped with advanced technological assets to the area. This brings the total number of active-duty military personnel supporting the response to
1,500. Dozens of Disaster Survivor Assistance staff are on the ground in affected areas to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources. Experienced FEMA leaders from around the country are in the field to bolster response efforts.
Sheltering: Over
1,700 people who cannot return home are staying in safe and clean lodging through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
Transitional Sheltering Assistance is available for North Carolinians displaced by Helene. Residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on their long-term housing plan. People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.
Shelter numbers continue to decline, with
22 shelters housing just
under 1,000 occupants. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in heavily impacted areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.
Power and Cellular Restoration: As of today, more than
86% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Cellular restoration continues to improve, with
less than 20% of cellular sites down. FEMA is boosting response coordination by providing
Starlink units to ensure first responders can communicate with each other.
Commodities: Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations are underway in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA commodity shipments are enroute to support operations. The agency is on track to meet requested delivery timelines for meals and water.