Federal Deadlines for Hurricane Helene Support

To make sure North Carolinians have the resources they need to recover, Governor Josh Stein is encouraging anyone affected by Hurricane Helene to be aware of the upcoming application deadlines for federal support, including for individuals and small businesses.

“As folks across western North Carolina continue to rebuild their lives and businesses after Hurricane Helene, it’s important to know what resources are available to support recovery,” said Stein. “Thousands of western North Carolinians have already taken advantage of these federal resources, but there is still time to apply. I encourage everyone to get the assistance they need from these programs.”

Relevant Deadlines

March 29, 2025: DUA expiration date (last date for benefits to be paid). Visit des.nc.gov/dua. For English, call (919) 629-3857, or Spanish (919) 276-5698, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

April 7, 2025: FEMA Individual Assistance deadline for disaster survivors affected by Tropical Storm Helene. Survivors should apply for FEMA assistance online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling (800) 621-3362, or by downloading the FEMA app. Available assistance may include funding for housing solutions, reimbursement for hotel costs, funds for repairs to your primary residence and privately-owned access routes, and reimbursement for disaster-causes expenses.

June 30, 2025: The US Small Business Administration (SBA) filing deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025. Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

There are several ways to apply:

• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center in your community. To locate the center nearest you, go to fema.gov/drc.
• Call the FEMA hotline at (800) 621-3362 between the hours of 7 a.m. and midnight.
• Go to disasterassistance.gov.

Survivors who have insurance are encouraged to file a claim for disaster-caused damage with your insurance company before they apply for FEMA assistance. Survivors do not need to wait for an insurance settlement to apply for FEMA assistance. FEMA may provide financial assistance to eligible survivors who are uninsured or underinsured.

Disaster survivors that need assistance or resources to aid in recovery can call the North Carolina Disaster Case Management Program at (844) 746-2326, or visit ncdps.gov/Helene/dcm.

Appeal a Decision

If you have been denied for FEMA assistance, you can submit an appeal by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center in your community, by calling (800) 621-3362, or by going online to disasterassistance.gov. You can also visit legalaidnc.org/project/disaster-relief-project.