FEMA Details Aid and Resources Available to North Carolinians Affected by Helene
A listing of where to find help
As the toll from Hurricane Helene continues to reveal itself, state and federal agencies are making efforts to ease some of the damage done in western North Carolina.
A Monday press release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) detailed the aid and resources currently available to North Carolinians following the hurricane, which is already known to have killed 33 people in North Carolina alone.
As of Monday morning, there were 10 federal search-and-rescue teams working in the state with another nine teams on the way for a total of 900 personnel actively supporting rescue operations in affected areas.
Two-hundred federal ambulances are operating in North Carolina with Health and Medical Task Forces and Disaster Medical Assistance Teams from the National Disaster Medical System starting emergency department decompression at Mission Hospital in Asheville with another team moving to Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine to treat patients.
Families trying to get in touch with loved ones are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit UnitedWayNC.org.
In the meantime, rescue and utility crews continue to work in affected areas to restore cell service and communications. FEMA has provided 40 Starlink satellite systems to aid in responder communications with one Starlink deployed for each county’s Emergency Operations Center to assist with restoring communications infrastructure.
FEMA is also reminding people not to travel to western North Carolina in order to keep the roads clear for relief efforts.
FEMA deployed 25 trailer-loads of meals and 60 trailer-loads of water to the state to support response efforts. Food, water and other commodities are currently available at the forward operating base in Asheville with a daily flow of commodities established via air bridge, the press release said.
A generator support package is also en route to Asheville from Charlotte with another 30 generators on the way to the staging base in Mecklenburg County.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Teams will be available to assist survivors in applying for disaster assistance, focusing their work in shelters.
Those looking to apply elsewhere for disaster relief resulting from displacement, the need for home repair or other expenses can go to Disaster Assistance, use the FEMA app or call 800-621-3362.
Folks living 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 or Yancey counties or are a tribal member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians may qualify for FEMA assistance.
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell is in North Carolina surveying damage alongside Gov. Roy Cooper. Criswell was directed by President Biden to remain on the ground until the situation had stabilized, the press release stated.
The North Carolina Democratic Party sent out a release on Monday asking those who are able to make donations toward clean up and recovery in western North Carolina.
Read more: Western NC Thirsts for Water in Wake of Hurricane Helene
Additional state and federal government resources provided in that release include the following:
- Visit Ready NC for information regarding shelters, traffic, road closures and outages.
- Info and resources for those impacted by Helene can also be found at the NC Department of Public Safety website.
- Here is a list of open North Carolina shelters.
- Missing People Support: Call 211 to report a missing person or request a welfare check.
- American Red Cross
- Call 800 RED CROSS or 800-733-27677
- Select “Disaster”
- Follow prompts for Hurricane Helene
- Tell them your location
- Give as much possible information
