North Carolina Disaster Assistance Deadline Extended to January 9, 2017

Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 23:15 Press Release

At the request of the State of North Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a 31-day extension for Hurricane Matthew survivors to apply for federal disaster assistance.

The state has requested more time for registration because a number of counties were added for Individual Assistance several weeks after the original Oct. 10 presidential disaster declaration.

Survivors now have until Jan. 9, 2017, to register with FEMA. This new deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Registration is open to survivors in Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne and Wilson counties.

Registering with FEMA is the first step to federal disaster assistance. Register:

 Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
 Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are

deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
 Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

If you have questions or need information you are encouraged to visit an open Disaster Recovery Center. To locate the center nearest you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, use the ReadyNC and FEMA mobile apps or go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or readync.org. Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the helpline numbers for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

Disaster recovery centers are staffed with representatives from FEMA, North Carolina Emergency Management and SBA. Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates about applications.

A convenient way to apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan is to visit a FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center or an SBA Business Recovery Center and meet with an SBA representative in person. SBA has staff at all DRCs and BRCs to help you with your application. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of- hearing individuals may call TTY 800-877-8339.

FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.

Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at readync.org. Management @ncemergency.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.