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How to apply for FEMA assistance
By For The Paper
FEMA
North Carolina homeowners and renters in Burke and 24 other counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.
FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs. Homeowners and renters in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians can apply.
There are several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
FEMA’s disaster assistance offers new benefits that provide flexible funding directly to survivors. In addition, a simplified process and expanded eligibility allow North Carolinians access to a wider range of assistance and funds for serious needs.
What you’ll need when you apply:
A current phone number where you can be contacted.
Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying.
Your Social Security number.
A general list of damage and losses.
Banking information if you choose direct deposit.
If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.
If you have homeowners, renters or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.
For grocery stores that open, many have empty shelves — like
Food Lion on Bost Road in Morganton.
Flood water in the parking lot of Ingles has drained, but the
store has sustained extensive damages and is closed with no
reopening date in sight.
CHARDA PEARSON / THE PAPER
Grocery stores in Morganton are waiting patiently for trucks to arrive with stock for the dairy, frozen, and refrigerated sections. Other stores severely impacted by damage have closed with no reopening dates announced.
Ingles has closed with no reopening date in sight. Associates disclosed the store was severely damaged. The grocery chain is sure the store will be closed for weeks. The Morganton location was flooded when the Catawba River overflowed its banks.
Frozen items at Food Matters are stocked in the freezer with a
sign that items are not safe.
CHARDA PEARSON / THE PAPER
As of Monday afternoon, Food Matters had only a few cases of water left. Frozen items are stocked in the freezer with a sign that items are not safe. The staff anticipates a truck to come Thursday with refrigerated, frozen, and dairy items.
At Aldi, refrigeration systems are back up and working. The store anticipates trucks to arrive Tuesday but could not specify a time of arrival.
Employees at the Food Lion on Burkemont Avenue were seen stocking ice coolers. The store has a two-bag limit for ice. The store is allowing customers to receive up to $50 cash from their debit card when making purchases.
Charda Pearson may be reached at 828-445-8595, ext. 2012, orcharda@thepaper.media
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