FEMA Disaster Assistance Update 10-3-2024
More than 500 FEMA staff are on the ground in North Carolina, with more arriving daily.
Disaster Survivor Assistance staff are on the ground in affected areas to help survivors to apply for FEMA assistance and connect them with additional state, local, federal, and voluntary agency resources.
Over 38 state and federal Urban Search and Rescue teams are in North Carolina helping people. As of today, these have rescued or supported over 2,100 survivors. Additional federal search and rescue teams have arrived to support the mission.
On Wednesday, October 2, President Biden visited the state to survey damage and meet with community leaders and state officials. Administrator Criswell remains in North Carolina and will be on the ground until the situation has stabilized.
FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance for North Carolinians displaced by Tropical Storm Helene. Residents in declared counties who have applied for disaster assistance may be eligible to stay temporarily in a hotel or motel paid for by FEMA while they work on a long-term housing plan.
People do not need to request this assistance. FEMA will notify them of their eligibility through an automated phone call, text message and/or email, depending upon the method of communication they selected at the time of application for disaster assistance.
As of October 3, 2024, more than 70% of originally reported power outages have been restored. Nearly 8,000 crews continue to assist with remaining power restoration efforts.
To date, over 40,000 people have applied for disaster assistance and FEMA has paid out more than $6.2 million in Individual Assistance directly to survivors.
Cellular restoration continues to improve, with less than 38% of cellular sites down as of October 3. Ten counties have 50% or more cell sites down. Two Federal Communications Commission surveillance teams are conducting inspection operations on equipment in targeted counties. FEMA is boosting response coordination by providing 40 Starlink units to ensure first responders can communicate with each other.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has full mobile cellular service.
Commodity distribution, mass feeding and hydration operations are underway in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA commodity shipments are in route to support operations.
Voluntary organizations are supporting mass feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming via truck and aircraft.
The American Red Cross is engaging in targeted distribution of emergency supplies in low-income communities with high levels of minor or affected residential damage.
Twenty-six shelters are housing over 1,000 occupants. Mobile feeding operations continue to help survivors in heavily impacted areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell, and Watauga counties.
The North Carolina National Guard has delivered 12 aircraft pallets, totaling more than 100,000 lbs of food and over 38,000 lbs of water to Asheville.
Information for Residents
– Residents can visit ncdps.gov/helene to get information and additional assistance.
– Residents should keep the roadways clear for search and rescue teams and utility crews.
– Residents can get in touch with loved ones by calling 2-1-1 or visiting unitedwaync.org to add them to search and rescue efforts.
