FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Columbus County

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can now get information about available state and federal assistance at a Disaster Recovery Center in Columbus County opening Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Location:                   Columbus County

Employment Security Commission

913 Jefferson Street
Whiteville, NC  28472

 

 Regular hours:         Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, North Carolina Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can receive help applying for federal disaster assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and obtain updates regarding your application. 

FEMA and the state have recovery centers open throughout the disaster-affected counties in North Carolina. To locate the center nearest to you, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or download the FEMA Mobile App. If you have access to a computer, you can go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or ncdps.gov.

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.
  • Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille, large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

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FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Columbus County

Brunswick and Halifax Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina homeowners, renters and business owners in Brunswick and Halifax counties, adversely affected by Hurricane Matthew and its impact, may apply for federal disaster assistance.

Thirty-five counties already eligible to apply for assistance, under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individual and Households Program, are: Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Camden, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pender, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne and Wilson.

Eligible storm damage and losses from the hurricane and flooding must have occurred beginning Oct. 4.

If you are a survivor, you are encouraged to register with FEMA as soon as possible even if you have insurance. FEMA is unable to duplicate insurance payments. However, you may find you are underinsured. If so, you may still receive help after your insurance claims have been settled.

 If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service (VRS). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585
  • Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

If you do not have access to telephone or internet service, don’t be discouraged. North Carolina Emergency Management and FEMA are coming to you. Teams of state and FEMA disaster survivor assistance specialists will soon be moving into affected communities to help you register for assistance. 

You may be eligible for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and for other serious disaster-related needs, such as medical and dental expenses or funeral and burial costs.

Long-term, low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration also may be available to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter @femaregion4 and North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

 

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Brunswick and Halifax Counties Designated for Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Duval County for Hurricane Matthew

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has opened in Jacksonville to help residents affected by Hurricane Matthew.

DRCs serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions.

The center is located at:

                    Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center

                    1000 Water St.

                    Jacksonville, FL 32204

Open Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Sundays    

FDEM and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify possible sites for additional centers.

Downloading the FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to their mobile device will allow survivors to:

  • Apply for disaster assistance;
  • Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center by visiting the DRC locator;
  • Get weather alerts;
  • Subscribe to disaster safety tips.

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585).

Toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice. Multilingual operators are available (for Spanish, press 2). Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate helpline number above to receive support.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. Those who may have registered with their county emergency management office, the American Red Cross or other community organizations are reminded to also register with FEMA. If you pre-registered with FEMA before the presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Matthew, there is no need to register again. However, you should keep FEMA informed about any change in your address, telephone number or other contact information.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and certain private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339), email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see www.fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

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Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Duval County for Hurricane Matthew

SBA Disaster Loan Application Used to Check Eligibility for Other Grants

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Georgia disaster survivors who suffered damage or loss from Hurricane Matthew and were referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration could lose some income-based FEMA grants if they don’t complete and submit SBA’s loan application.

FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance grants may cover uninsured losses for furniture, appliances and other essential personal property, even vehicles. Survivors will not be considered for this type of assistance unless they complete and return the SBA loan application. The information on the application is used to determine eligibility for income-based assistance.

Disaster survivors in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties are encouraged to register with FEMA and, if referred, complete and submit an SBA loan application, even if they don’t want a loan. The application is used to check eligibility for additional grants.

SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

Survivors should start the loan process as soon as possible, and those who qualify for an SBA loan are under no obligation to accept it.  If approved and the loan is not accepted, the survivor may be ineligible for additional federal assistance.

Submit an SBA loan application even if you are waiting for an insurance settlement. Survivors do not have to wait for an insurance settlement. A survivor’s insurance policy may not cover all the replacement, repair and rebuilding costs. A disaster loan is available to cover the difference.

To repair or help rebuild a primary residence, a homeowner may borrow up to $200,000 from SBA. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 from SBA to replace personal property.

Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or economic injury. SBA offers low-interest working capital loans (called Economic Injury Disaster Loans)

to small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes having difficulty meeting obligations as a result of the disaster.

Damage from Hurricane Matthew must have occurred Oct. 4-15. Survivors can register with

FEMA the following ways:

The filing deadline to return SBA loan applications for physical property damage is Dec. 16. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 17, 2017.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s disaster assistance customer service center at 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit sba.gov/disaster. TTY users can call 800-877-8339.  Applicants may also apply online using the electronic loan application via SBA’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

Disaster survivors may also visit any disaster recovery center where SBA customer service representatives can answer questions, help complete loan applications and close loans. For the nearest location go to asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284. 

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SBA Disaster Loan Application Used to Check Eligibility for Other Grants

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available to Georgia Residents Affected by Hurricane Matthew

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Disaster unemployment assistance is available to workers in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties who lost income as a direct result of Hurricane Matthew in Georgia.

The purpose of disaster unemployment assistance is to help workers whose primary incomes are lost or interrupted by a federally declared disaster. It differs from regular state unemployment insurance because it provides benefits to people who are self-employed, farmers, loggers and employees who work on commission.

Individuals in the 10 counties approved for disaster assistance in Georgia must first apply for regular unemployment insurance by visiting the Georgia Department of Labor website at dol.georgia.gov or apply in person at any Georgia Department of Labor career center. For locations, visit dol.georgia.gov/locations/career-center.

The Georgia Department of Labor will notify claimants if they are also eligible to file for disaster unemployment assistance.

Eligible claimants in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, McIntosh and Wayne counties must apply for disaster unemployment assistance by Friday, Nov. 18.

Applicants in Evans, Liberty and Long counties must apply no later than Monday, Nov. 28.

For more information on applying for disaster unemployment assistance visit the Georgia Department of Labor website at FAQs on Disaster-Related Benefits.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284. 

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Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available to Georgia Residents Affected by Hurricane Matthew

Free Legal Assistance for Survivors Affected by Florida Hurricanes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Free legal assistance is available to eligible low-income survivors in the 17 counties affected by hurricanes Hermine and Matthew: Brevard, Citrus, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Hernando, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Levy, Nassau, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia.

This service is a partnership among The Florida Bar, The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, and FEMA. Examples of the legal assistance available include:

  • Assistance with securing FEMA and other benefits available to disaster survivors;

  • Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims;

  • Help with home repair contracts and contractors;

  • Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster;

  • Assistance with consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures;

  • Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems;

  • Counseling on landlord/tenant problems.

Survivors may call the legal assistance hotline at 866-550-2929, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Those who qualify for assistance will be matched with Florida lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Although consultations with attorneys are confidential, survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where fees are paid as part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are passed to a lawyer referral service.

Other entities providing free legal aid are:

  • National Disaster Legal Aid Online (disasterlegalaid.org);

  • Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida, Inc. (800-405-1417);

  • Three Rivers Legal Services, Inc. (1-866-256-8091).

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery visit fema.gov/disaster/4280, fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

This article is from – 

Free Legal Assistance for Survivors Affected by Florida Hurricanes

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Volusia County for Hurricane Matthew

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.- A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has opened in Daytona Beach to help residents affected by Hurricane Matthew.

DRCs serve as one-stop shops for eligible storm survivors seeking one-on-one help. Representatives from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and various state agencies will be at the center to answer questions

The center is located at:

                     Florida Department of Health – Volusia County

                    1845 Holsonback Drive

WIC/Conference Center Entrance

Daytona Beach, FL 32117

Open Monday – Saturday

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed Sundays

FDEM and FEMA officials continue to work closely with local officials in hard-hit areas to identify possible sites for additional centers.

Downloading the FEMA App (available in English and Spanish) to their mobile device will allow survivors to:

  • Apply for disaster assistance
  • Get directions to the nearest Disaster Recovery Center by visiting the DRC locator
  • Get weather alerts
  • Subscribe to disaster safety tips

Many services available at disaster recovery centers are also available by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 (voice, 711/VRS-Video Relay Service) (TTY: 800-462-7585). Toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Multilingual operators are available, (for Spanish, press 2). Survivors with questions regarding the application or the appeals process, or who need to register for assistance, may visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation (ASL interpreting, Braille Large Print, etc.) while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the appropriate helpline number above to receive support.

FEMA encourages survivors to register as soon as possible. Those who may have registered with their county emergency management office, the American Red Cross or other community organizations are reminded to also register with FEMA. If you pre-registered with FEMA before the presidential disaster declaration for Hurricane Matthew, there is no need to register again. However, you should keep FEMA informed about any change in your address, telephone number or other contact information.

Disaster assistance may include grants to help homeowners and renters pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.

SBA offers low-interest disaster loans for businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and certain private non-profit organizations. SBA disaster loans may cover repairs, rebuilding, as well as the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged real estate and personal property.

For more information about SBA loans, call SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339), email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

For more information on Florida’s disaster recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4283, twitter.com/femaregion4, facebook.com/FEMA, and fema.gov/blog, floridadisaster.org or #FLRecovers. For imagery, video, graphics and releases, see www.fema.gov/Hurricane-Matthew.

Original source – 

Disaster Recovery Center Opens in Volusia County for Hurricane Matthew

FEMA Extends Public Assistance Funding to Ware County for Matthew Damage in Georgia

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Ware County is now eligible to apply for FEMA’s Public Assistance funding to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areas that sustained damage from Hurricane Matthew.

Ware joins 19 counties previously approved for Public Assistance funding: Brantley, Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Jenkins, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs and Wayne.

Assistance would cover eligible debris removal and emergency protective measures. It would also cover eligible repair or rebuilding of roads, bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and their equipment, public utilities, parks and recreational facilities damaged as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

The president’s Oct. 8 major disaster declaration for Georgia was for Matthew damage that occurred Oct. 4-15. The declaration was amended to make Public Assistance funding available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for all seven categories including emergency work, restoration of infrastructure and direct federal assistance.

Public Assistance funding for the state and designated counties may include payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs incurred as a result of the storm.

Application procedures for state and local governments will be explained at a series of state/federal applicant briefings to be announced in the affected area. Approved projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284. 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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FEMA Extends Public Assistance Funding to Ware County for Matthew Damage in Georgia

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Robeson County

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina residents who suffered losses and damage as a result of Hurricane Matthew can now get information about available state and federal assistance at a Disaster Recovery Center in Robeson County opening Saturday, Oct. 29.

 

Location:                   Robeson County

Old Kmart

2750 N. Roberts Ave.

Lumberton, NC 28358

 

 Regular hours:         Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., until further notice.

DRCs are staffed with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, North Carolina Emergency Management and the U.S. Small Business Administration. You can receive help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates regarding your application. 

FEMA and the state also have DRCs open in 15 additional counties. To locate a DRC nearest to you, call 1-800-621-3362 or download the FEMA Mobile App.  If you have access to a computer, you can go online to ncdps.gov.

If you have phone and/or internet access, you may register in one of the following ways:

  • Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. It is the same number if you use 711, Video Relay Service, or any other relay service.
  • Call 800-462-7585 if you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY
  • Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply

Survivors requiring a reasonable accommodation such as American Sign Language interpreting, Braille large print, etc. while visiting a disaster recovery center may call the Helpline number for support. The toll-free numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assests/veideos/111546.

FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

Survivors should register even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285 or visit www.readync.org. Follow FEMA on Twitter at @femaregion4 or North Carolina Emergency Management @ncemergency.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 or TTY at 800-462-7585.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Follow FEMA on twitter at @femaregion4. Download the FEMA app with tools and tips to keep you safe before, during, and after disasters.

Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 to speak with a trained call specialist about questions you have regarding Hurricane Matthew; the service is free, confidential and available in any language. They can help direct you to resources. Call 5-1-1 or 877-511-4662 for the latest road conditions or check the ReadyNC mobile app, which also has real-time shelter and evacuation information. For updates on Hurricane Matthew impacts and relief efforts, go to ReadyNC.org or follow N.C. Emergency Management on Twitter and Facebook. People or organizations that want to help ensure North Carolina recovers can visit NCdisasterrelief.org or text NCRecovers to 30306.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private non-profit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

Read more:  

FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center to Open in Robeson County

Free Legal Services Available to Eligible Georgia Survivors Affected by Matthew

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Free legal assistance is now available to low-income Georgia disaster survivors who need help with home repair contracts and contractors, counseling on landlord-tenant issues or assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims.

Disaster often brings chaos, which can result in disagreements. Legal help is available to survivors in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne who can’t afford to hire a lawyer to deal with disaster-related issues. Damage must have occurred from Oct. 4-15.

Legal assistance can include:

  • help securing FEMA and other government benefits available to disaster survivors

  • replacement of wills and other important legal documents lost or destroyed in the disaster

  • assistance with consumer protection issues such as price gouging and avoiding contractor scams in the rebuilding process

  • counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems

The toll-free legal hotline to connect disaster survivors affected by Hurricane Matthew with legal aid providers is 866-584-8027. Local residents may call 404-527-8793. The lines are open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with Georgia lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee; for example, those cases in which attorneys are paid part of the settlement by a court. Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service.

Consultations with attorneys are confidential.

Legal services are provided by FEMA partners, including the State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284. 

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Free Legal Services Available to Eligible Georgia Survivors Affected by Matthew

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