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Today, Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks is in North Carolina, meeting with state and local officials and supporting federal response efforts. Helping people and communities respond to and recover from disasters is the core of FEMA’s mission and has been the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus throughout the response to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The administration has prioritized getting critical infrastructure restored and financial assistance directly to survivors so they can start their recovery. So far, FEMA has approved more than $1.2 billion in assistance for individuals and families affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton to help pay for housing repairs, personal property replacement and other recovery efforts, with more funding going out the door every day.
Over 5,000 FEMA personnel are supporting communities across the Southeast, coordinating with local officials, conducting damage assessments and helping individuals apply for disaster assistance programs. More than 1,400 FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance team members are in affected neighborhoods helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal and voluntary agency resources.
There are currently 75 Disaster Recovery Centers open across states affected by Helene and Milton where survivors can speak with representatives from the state, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration that can assist them with their recovery and applying for assistance. Survivors can find their closest center at FEMA.gov/DRC.
The agency's state, local and Tribal Nation partners worked with the private sector to restore power and cellphone services to all Helene-affected areas. Thanks to their efforts, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Department of Energy, close to 100% of power and cell service has been restored to impacted areas.
Additionally, USACE announced Operation Blue Roof, which is a free service to homeowners for 25 counties in Florida impacted by Hurricane Milton. Residents can sign-up at www.blueroof.gov or by calling 888-ROOF-BLU (888-766-3258). The sign-up period deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
President Biden declared major disaster declarations for six states affected by Helene—Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia—and Florida for Milton. FEMA encourages Helene and Milton survivors to apply for disaster assistance online as this remains the quickest way to start your recovery. Individuals can apply for federal assistance by:
Applicants may be eligible for Transitional Sheltering Assistance, which provides survivors with a safe, temporary place to stay, like a hotel or motel, until they can find a short or longer-term housing solution. To date, more than 23,000 households have checked into FEMA provided hotels.
For the latest updates on the Hurricane Helene and Milton response, please visit Press Releases | FEMA.gov, or our disaster pages at Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Additional information is available on our Hurricane Rumor Response webpage.
Chimney Rock, N.C. (Oct. 18, 2024) - FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell walks through the town of Chimney Rock alongside local officials to see the damage that Hurricane Helene left behind to find out what the area needs for long-term recovery efforts.
Jonesborough, Tenn. (Oct. 22, 2024) - FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams assist survivors of Tropical Storm Helene in their recovery efforts at Fender's Farm.
Caldwell County, N.C. (Oct. 23, 2024) - FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams canvass areas affected by Hurricane Helene, helping survivors register for aid.
Orlando, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2024) - FEMA staff and Disaster Survivor Assistance teams help Hurricane Milton survivors register for assistance.
Madeira Beach, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2024) - Volunteers from Samaritan's Purse are cleaning up debris in Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Milton.
Swannanoa, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2024) – FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams go door-to-door in a Swannanoa neighborhood in Buncombe County to help residents with damage caused by Hurricane Helene for assistance.
Pine Ridge, Fla. (Oct. 24, 2024) - Volunteers help Hurricane Milton survivors by handing out emergency supplies.
Swannanoa, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2024) – A FEMA Mobile Disaster Recovery Center in Buncombe County opened so residents who have experienced damage caused by Hurricane Helene can register for assistance.
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Over the last month, FEMA and people from across the country have come together to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. The response has been a whole-of-community effort from nonprofits and faith-based organizations to government officials, individuals and the private sector.
Our shared goal is to get people back on their feet and set them up for success. We will be alongside them for as long as it takes. Visit FEMA.gov to see how far we’ve come.
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To help the communities affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton, FEMA implemented the agency’s local hire program. FEMA’s local hire program consists of residents who aid in the recovery of their community. These employees are hired into 120-day appointments that may be extended based on the needs of the disaster.
If you know someone who was impacted by the storms and wants to make a difference in their community, consider sharing the information below:
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Everyone's path to recovery looks different depending on their specific needs. If you or a loved one is living with a disability, FEMA funding can make certain accessibility improvements to homes damaged by a declared disaster on or after March 22, 2024, to eligible survivors with disabilities. Whether it's installing a ramp or grab bars, FEMA offers assistance even if your home wasn't damaged.
Visit FEMA.gov to learn more.
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FEMA is hiring Community Liaisons to support local communities affected by Tropical Storm Helene in North Carolina. Community Liaison's serve as trusted messengers and act as the community's link between the people and FEMA and other federal agency programs, staff and leadership, to ensure communities impacted by a disaster have their needs met. The ideal candidate will have close ties to the community and will leverage their local knowledge, relationships and familiarity with the impacted area to support disaster recovery.
This job announcement includes 40 North Carolina counties and will close Monday, Nov. 4.
For more information about this position and to apply, please visit USAJOBS - Job Announcement.
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FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have created a one-stop-shop resource with information about multiple federal support that is available to assist local businesses with their recovery. The guide—tailored for each affected state—is available on FEMA’s website at the links below:
A full list of more than 70 resources from 17 federal agencies is available on disasterassistance.gov.
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