FEMA Remains Focused on Recovery Efforts for Hurricane Helene Survivors While Preparing for Hurricane Milton’s Impacts
Under the Biden-Harris Administration’s direction, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues leading a whole-of-government approach to assist communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Federal assistance for Helene survivors has surpassed $286 million, in addition to $180 million in mission assignments, as FEMA coordinates recovery efforts while preparing for Hurricane Milton’s arrival along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
- FEMA Remains Focused on Recovery Efforts for Hurricane Helene Survivors While Preparing for Hurricane Milton’s Impacts
- Response to Hurricane Helene
- Disaster survivors in designated areas in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA.
- There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance:
- Volunteer Organizations
- Assistance in North Carolina
- Experienced FEMA leaders from across the country are on the ground to reinforce response efforts.
- FEMA will notify them of their eligibility via automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending on the communication method selected when applying for disaster assistance.
- Assistance in Florida
- Assistance in South Carolina
- Assistance in Georgia
- Assistance in Virginia
- Assistance in Tennessee
Administrator Deanne Criswell is on the ground leading FEMA’s response and recovery operations for the affected states. The combined efforts of federal, state, and local partners ensure all available resources are mobilized to assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
While FEMA remains focused on response and recovery efforts following Helene, the agency is also fully committed to supporting local, tribal, and state response efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival. Residents in the storm’s projected path are urged to stay informed and prepare now.
Response to Hurricane Helene
The agency is actively working alongside state, local, and tribal partners to assess damages and support those affected by the disaster.
Nearly 7,000 employees have been mobilized from across the federal workforce, including FEMA personnel. To date, FEMA has delivered 16.2 million meals, over 13.9 million liters of water, 210 generators, and more than 505,000 tarps to the region. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are in affected communities helping survivors apply for assistance and connecting them with additional state, local, federal, and volunteer resources.
Disaster survivors in designated areas in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA.
Individuals with home or personal property damage living in designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include initial funds to help with essential items such as food, water, infant formula, breastfeeding supplies, and other emergency supplies.
Funds may also be available to repair storm damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance in finding temporary housing. Homeowners and renters who suffered damage from previous disasters, regardless of whether they received FEMA funds, remain eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.
There are three ways to apply for FEMA assistance:
- Online by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov/es.
- By calling FEMA’s helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
- By downloading and applying through the FEMA mobile app.
Volunteer Organizations
Volunteer organizations are providing support to all affected states by offering critical feeding operations and assisting survivors with hot, prepared meals as well as shelf-stable food. Organizations are also providing personnel and resources to the hardest-hit areas. The American Red Cross has hundreds of trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters.
Individuals can receive free services such as fallen tree removal, tarp installation, and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The helpline will remain open until October 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local aid organizations, community groups, and faith-based communities that can help.
Additionally, each state is receiving support and additional assistance, which includes:
Assistance in North Carolina
Financial Assistance: FEMA has provided over $40 million in housing and other assistance to more than 30,000 families.
Personnel: As response efforts continue in North Carolina, over 1,000 FEMA personnel are on the ground, with more arriving daily. More than 1,000 Urban Search and Rescue teams are assisting people. To date, these teams have rescued or assisted over 3,200 survivors. To bolster recovery operations in western North Carolina, President Biden has ordered the deployment of an additional 500 active-duty soldiers equipped with technological resources, bringing the total number of active military supporting the response to 1,500.
Experienced FEMA leaders from across the country are on the ground to reinforce response efforts.
Shelters: The number of people in shelters continues to decline, with 18 shelters housing just under 800 occupants. More than 2,100 people unable to return to their homes are staying in safe, clean accommodations through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance program. Transitional Sheltering Assistance is available for North Carolina residents displaced by Helene.
Residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may opt to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while working on their long-term housing plan. No additional application is required.
FEMA will notify them of their eligibility via automated phone call, text message, and/or email, depending on the communication method selected when applying for disaster assistance.
Power and Telephone Restoration: To date, over 86% of the originally reported power outages have been restored. Mobile phone service restoration continues to improve, with over 85% of mobile phone services operational.
FEMA is enhancing response coordination by providing Starlink satellite systems to ensure response personnel can communicate with each other.
Supplies: Supply distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations are underway in western North Carolina. FEMA shipments are en route to support operations. Volunteer organizations are assisting feeding operations with food and water deliveries via trucks and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are reaching survivors in the hardest-hit areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell, and Watauga counties.
The Salvation Army has 20 mobile feeding units supporting the mass operation and has provided emotional and spiritual care to over 2,400 people. To date, the Salvation Army has delivered 34,000 meals, 14,500 drinks, and 10,200 snacks. The American Red Cross is conducting targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor residential damage.
Resources:
- Residents can visit ncdps.gov/helene for additional information and assistance.
- Residents can check on loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.
Assistance in Florida
Recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene continue in Florida, even as the federal government assists the state in preparing for Hurricane Milton. FEMA has approved over $129 million for more than 35,000 households. FEMA specialists are canvassing Florida communities affected by Helene to help survivors apply for assistance. Additionally, FEMA inspectors are visiting applicants’ homes to verify disaster-related damages.
Residents in need of information can call the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) at 1-800-342-3557. Operators fluent in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole are available to answer questions.
Residents can find additional resources and information on the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s website, FloridaDisaster.org.
Assistance in South Carolina
In South Carolina, FEMA has provided over $65 million to more than 80,000 families. FEMA’s Disaster Survivor Assistance teams are in affected neighborhoods and continue to help survivors apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal, and volunteer agency resources.
Residents with questions about Hurricane Helene can call the state’s free hotline at 1-866-246-0133, open 24 hours a day.
Residents who rely on in-home medical equipment and are without power due to Helene may be eligible for medical needs shelters. Call the State Department of Public Health’s care line at 1-855-472-3432 for more information.
Residents can find more information on the South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s website.
Assistance in Georgia
FEMA has provided over $48 million to more than 59,000 families.
Resources: Residents can find resources such as shelters and feeding sites on the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency’s website.
Assistance in Virginia
To date, FEMA has provided over $850,500 to more than 123 families.
Residents can find resources such as shelters and feeding sites on the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s website.
Assistance in Tennessee
FEMA has provided over $3.1 million in disaster assistance to 192 families.
Residents can call 1-800-824-3463 to report a missing person. Callers should be prepared to provide as much information as possible, including names, phone numbers, vehicle identification, and last known whereabouts.
Counties have begun setting up donation centers. For an evolving list, visit the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency’s website.
Image: FEMA
