Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) teams are providing resources to western North Carolina.
FEMA teams are going door-to-door to make sure people and structures are safe and to sign people up for federal assistance after the remnants of Hurricane Helene devastated the area.
FEMA Media Relations Specialist Nate Custer said the teams are marked with official FEMA identification badges and carrying tablets to sign people up on the spot.
FEMA spokesperson Jann Tracey added that agents are accompanied by local officials.
Custer said the agency is currently in response mode. During this stage, the agency is conducting search-and-rescue operations, getting utilities up and running and getting roads passable.
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Custer is assigned to provide information for Catawba, Burke, McDowell and other western North Carolina counties.
Tracey is providing information about Alexander, Caldwell and northwestern North Carolina counties.
βWe work closely with faith-based organizations, community partners,β Custer said. βFEMA administers and is in charge of the various federal agencies, but weβre only part of the equation. We donβt come in and, so to speak, run the show. Weβre invited in and requested in by the governor.
βWe work closely with state emergency management and local emergency management. We have an element that works with voluntary organizations. Often there are partnerships and task forces created to solve some of these long-range housing problems.
βThereβs going to be an awful volume of these this time around,β Custer said.
What is FEMA doing in western North Carolina?
Tracey said FEMA comes in when local and state officials need assistance.Β
If a need cannot be met by local and state officials, FEMA jumps in to meet the need, using resources from all over the country.Β
"FEMA and the state work hand in glove," Tracey said. "Even before a disaster hits, we're trying to anticipate needs and get resources where they are needed."Β
Custer said FEMA is in all of the 27 federally declared disaster counties and in lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina in some capacity.
Custer said the teams going door-to-door are essential for making people aware of resources available to them.
βIn a typical disaster, communications are an issue, and itβs worse in this one,β Custer said. βUsually there are some cell phone outages, but nothing like this in how weβre (having difficulty) getting the word out to people.β
Custer continued, βA lot of people are in a state of shock. They donβt know whatβs going to happen the next day. They might not be aware they need to register with FEMA. If they register with their local emergency management or Red Cross, that does not get them into the FEMA system.β
A release from Oct. 6 from the White House said there are more than 1,000 FEMA staff in North Carolina with more arriving daily. The release said there are 1,500 military personnel in the state assisting with disaster response.
Over 1,200 search and rescue personnel are in the area. Teams have rescued more than 3,200 people as of Oct. 6.
Tracey said FEMA has contributed over 5 million liters of water and 7 million meals since the disaster began.Β
"When people don't see someone in a FEMA shirt distributing, that doesn't mean it wasn't contributed by FEMA," Tracey said.Β
How can people apply for assistance?
Custer said people can apply for assistance by calling 800-621-3362. Those able to access the internet can also apply for assistance by going to .
FEMA also has an app that can be downloaded and used to apply for assistance.
Custer said FEMA will soon open disaster recovery centers.Β
Tracey said recovery centers would likely be in every county included in the federal disaster declaration.Β
Custer said individuals do not have to live in a county where a disaster center is located to use a center.
Staff members at disaster recovery centers will be able to help people who have previously applied for assistance and sign people up for aid.Β
One disaster center is currently open in North Carolina. The center is located at A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville.Β
FEMAβs website said the deadline to apply for assistance in North Carolina is Nov. 27.
What do you need to apply for assistance?
β’ Proof of ownership of a residence
β’ A list of people permanently living at a location
β’ Social Security number
β’ Estimated annual income
β’ Insurance information, if available
Custer said it takes about 10 minutes to provide this information over the phone.
More information is coming for people who have lost a driver's license and other documents, Custer said.
βThat happens in virtually all these situations. Key documents get swept away,β Custer said. βThereβs avenues people can use to recover documents.β
Who can apply for FEMA assistance?
U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and qualified non-citizens are eligible to receive assistance according to FEMAβs website.
Applicants will also need to provide a Social Security number to prove their identity.
What happens after applying for assistance?
Custer said the time to process an application varies.
βWe have already approved more than $37 million in housing and other types of assistance for over 28,000 North Carolina households,β Custer said on Oct. 8.
On Oct. 9, FEMA's website said nearly $60 million in housing and other assistance had been approved for almost 52,000 North Carolinians.Β
After applying for FEMA assistance, applicants will receive a letter explaining what type of grant they have been awarded or advising them their application is incomplete and more information is needed.
If someone is not satisfied with the grant they received, an appeals process exists. Custer said specialists at disaster recovery centers can assist applicants with the appeals process.
FEMA’s website also says appeals can be made online through accounts registered with .
Custer said FEMA may call applicants from any number, so if someone has applied for assistance they need to answer their phone even if it is from an unknown number.
Does FEMA help with unemployment?
Custer said those out of work due to the disaster may apply for disaster unemployment.
βThere is disaster unemployment,β Custer said. βIt is mostly funded by FEMA. but it is run by the state unemployment office.β
What does FEMA pay for?
Custer said the $750 many applicants have received is for food, medicine, diapers and other essential needs.
FEMA can also pay for emergency home repair if a home is repairable.
FEMA also pays for temporary housing.
Weβve got about 1,400 people in 125 hotels in North Carolina, Custer said.
FEMA may also assist with providing funds for equipment used for work or school, such as tools or computers, on a case-by-case basis.
Does FEMA assistance have to be paid back?
Custer said FEMA assistance does not have to be paid back because they are grants.
Custer said FEMA aids individuals. The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides loans to businesses, homeowners and renters to deal with home and personal property losses.
People can apply for FEMA grants and SBA loans.
Are conspiracy theories hurting FEMA?
βThereβs things out there like FEMA is confiscating items or supplies, thereβs no truth at all to that,β Custer said, referring to a rumor that FEMA is taking donated items and not disbursing them to affected communities. βWe always say, particularly for people outside the affected area, a cash contribution is the most effective way (to help).β
Custer said people should give to the Red Cross or other established organizations.
Custer also said well-intentioned deeds may not be helpful.
βPeople get a pick-up, get a few neighbors, get a few supplies in a truck and head on down to western North Carolina,β Custer said. βThatβs difficult with the roads, theyβre not sure where to go, thereβs a problem in not knowing exactly where to drop those (donations off).β
Can people apply to work for FEMA?
Custer said people can apply, but FEMA is not at the point where they have requested additional aid workers.