News

What kind of assistance is FEMA providing?

By Imari Scarbrough, Carolina Public Press, Published: October 27, 2024

As people across the Southeast continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, those in Western North Carolina are still navigating the process of applying for FEMA support.

Despite persistent rumors and claims on social media that FEMA awards only $750 per household, the agency has provided support for tens of thousands of people across the region.

Matthew Behnke, from FEMA’s Office of External Affairs, said the agency continues to award monetary support to survivors.

“As of (Oct. 18), we have approved over 85,000 households in western NC for more than $115 million and those funds do not need to be repaid. They are meant to help jumpstart recovery,” he said via email.

Behnke said applicants receive different types of aid according to each situation and eligibility level.

Types of FEMA assistance

Individuals and families may be eligible to receive multiple types of aid. Behnke highlighted the most common types of aid those affected by Helene might qualify for.

The first step is to complete an application. FEMA will notify applicants of what aid they qualify for. If an application is denied, FEMA encourages individuals to appeal.

Serious Need Assistance (SNA) is approved for many individuals and families.

“(SNA) is money to pay for emergency supplies like water, food, first aid, breastfeeding supplies, infant formula, diapers, personal hygiene items or fuel for transportation,” Behnke said. “It is available in all disasters declared for Individual Assistance. To qualify for SNA, you must be displaced, need shelter or have emergency costs listed on your application for assistance.”

For some, supplies are needed but shelter is the most pressing necessity.

“Another new benefit is FEMA’s Displacement Assistance which includes money to help with housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster,” Behnke said. “The money can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends or other options.”

Home Repair Assistance is available to “repair your primary home that you own and live in if it was damaged by a disaster and not covered by insurance or other means,” Behnke said.

On its website, FEMA says repairs may also include measures to help avoid “similar damage from future disasters” as in addition to meeting immediate needs, FEMA often tries to help safeguard homes against future destruction.

These preventive measures vary by disaster type. In a FEMA hazard mitigation fact sheet supplied by Behnke, examples of possible risk reduction repairs include raising water heaters, furnaces and electrical panels to prevent them from being ruined by floodwaters.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for whether a home qualifies for the preventive work and which risk-reduction techniques FEMA might want a homeowner to employ, but FEMA will provide tailored details to individuals.

“After receiving their initial Home Repair Assistance award letter, applicants whose Home Repair Assistance includes additional funds for mitigation measures will receive a follow up letter explaining the intended mitigation measures,” Behnke said. “Each case will be assessed individually.”