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If your home is damaged by Hurricane Florence, you may be able to get some help from the federal government to cover some of the costs. It does not matter whether you are a tenant or owner or whether you have insurance coverage.
On Friday, President Donald Trump declared a major disaster in North Carolina and ordered federal aid to supplement local, tribal and local recovery efforts. The action makes federal funds available in the counties of Beaufort, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico and Pender, according to a White House press release.
Assistance may include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover losses of uninsured property and other programs to help individuals and business owners .
Federal funds are also made available to tribal and eligible states and local governments, as well as some private non-profit organizations on the basis of cost-sharing for emergency work in these areas. counties, says the release. Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for state-wide risk mitigation measures.
Brock Long, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, has appointed Albert Lewis as the federal coordinating officer for federal recovery operations in the United States. affected areas.
Residents and business owners can start asking for help by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA. (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for hearing problems and speech disorders. The free phone numbers will run from 7 am to 10 pm seven days a week until further notice.
'Massive Storm'
The president's statement followed Governor Roy Cooper's request that Trump issue an official disaster declaration. Cooper was joined Friday by the 15-member Congressional Delegation of North Carolina, who also asked Trump to declare an official disaster for Florence.
"We know this massive storm will cause incredible damage and I urge Washington to act quickly so that the federal recovery assistance can intervene as soon as possible," said Cooper.
Individuals applying for FEMA assistance must be able to provide identification information to FEMA, including:
▪ Your social security number or the social security number of a child living at home.
▪ Annual household income.
▪ Contact information, insurance information and banking information.
FEMA also needs the bank account information of the applicants, so that if they are approved for help, the agency can deposit their money directly into their accounts.
Anyone who is refused will always be informed and will have the opportunity to appeal. But FEMA does not help with everything. For example, FEMA's help is only available for your primary residence and not for vacation homes. FEMA will not duplicate the assistance you receive from your insurance company, but you may receive assistance for items not covered by insurance, says the agency's website.
However, as hurricane Florence is expected to cause severe flooding, it is unlikely that many people will be able to bring their insurance company to cover the damage. According to a McClatchy analysis of federal data, only 3% of homes in North Carolina receive flood insurance.
In addition to FEMA assistance, homeowners, tenants and business owners can also apply for low-interest home repair loans from the federal Small Business Administration following a natural disaster.
More information on these loans and how to apply them is available at https://disasterloan.sba.gov.
State aid
The North Carolina government can also help you rebuild or repair your home. More information is available on the rebuild.nc.gov file.
Individuals wishing to apply for state replenishment must provide a number of documents, including:
▪ A photo ID and proof of citizenship or legal residence (such as an American passport or green card).
▪ Evidence that you have lived in the damaged house (like a utility bill dating from the same month that the storm hit).
▪ Copies of tax returns or pay stubs for all adults living in the home.
▪ Copies of all payments from insurance companies or other government agencies for damage to the home.
More details can be found online at www.rebuild.nc.gov/apply.
Lodging of home insurance claims
Once the storm is over, insurance agents will be able to help homeowners file their property insurance claims.
The CN Insurance Department will also assist in the processing of claims. The agency plans to set up consumer assistance centers in shopping centers and other public places, which will be announced later. Locations will be listed on www.ncdoi.com.
The insurance department warns residents to be wary of hustlers who attack the victims of the storm. The agency said to take these steps to protect against unscrupulous contractors or unscrupulous men:
▪ Beware of salespeople who go door-to-door to solicit business.
▪ Make sure the contractor is insured and licensed.
▪ Get all the estimates in writing, including schedules and materials.
▪ Do not sign blank contracts and do not pay the full contractor before the work is completed.
Help with loss of employment
In case of disaster, people do not lose their homes. Some also lose their jobs. And if that happens, a different federal agency can help.
Through a 2014 post-recession law, the US Department of Labor has money for grants to retrain people for new careers or help them return to school. The US Secretary of Labor, Alexander Acosta, announced Thursday that his department would send additional funds to North Carolina counties hit by Hurricane Florence.
"Like last year's destructive hurricane season, Americans will come together to rebuild their communities," he said. "The Department of Labor is here to help ensure the safety and stability of the North Carolinians."
To find a local state-run career center, go to https://ncworks.gov
Help for small businesses
Low interest loans to homeowners and tenants through the Small Business Association also apply to people who own their own businesses.
For more information or to apply, visit https://disasterloan.sba.gov
Business owners whose property has suffered storm damage or economic losses due to closure, even if there has been no material damage, are eligible for SBA loans. The same is true for losses suffered if one or more of its employees has been called in for emergency because they are on military reserves.
These three types of loans can reach $ 2 million.
Doran: 919-836-2858; Twitter: @will_doran
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