The following are resources for those affected by Helene. For ways you can help those affected, click here.
Grant Opportunity
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is making grants out of their crisis fund for direct, essential crisis response. Learn more.
North Carolina’s SBTDC
North Carolina’s SBTDC offers a catalog of resources for small businesses in our state, including information on the WNC Strong: Business Recovery Fund. Click here to visit their page.
Benefits for Employees
- There are several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET daily. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.
- If using DisasterAssistance.gov: clicking on the red “Let’s Get Started” button at the top of the page allows an individual to fill out a questionnaire about their specific needs. The lower portion of the page also includes links to Red Cross shelters, other shelters, SBA resources and how to contact your local emergency management offices.
- If using the FEMA App: clicking “Apply for Individual Assistance” will redirect you to the same DisasterAssistance.gov page as above
- If calling 800-621-3362: a FEMA representative will help you through the assistance process.
- Notably, FEMA approved two new programs for use in North Carolina: Displacement Assistance (immediate housing up to 14 days) and Serious Needs Assistance (immediate financial assistance to replace and recover financial needs). FEMA may also be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.
- FEMA has also approved the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program for certain portions of NC – under the TSA, FEMA pays the cost of room, taxes and non-refundable pet fees directly to participating hotels and motels. To locate participating hotels, visit femaemergencyhotels.com and enter your FEMA registration number, obtained when you applied for FEMA Individual Assistance.
- North Carolina Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits are now available in 25 counties as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
- North Carolinians have 60 days from October 1 to file an application, the deadline to apply is December 2.
- How to File a Disaster-Related Claim brochure provides step-by-step instructions to file a claim online (recommended).
- Can also call the Disaster Unemployment Assistance hotline (919)-629-3857 for help.
Please encourage your employees to use direct deposit due to challenges sending and receiving mail during recovery. The claim can be updated with the banking information after it is filed and ESC is working to be able to take information via phone.
To learn more and/or start your claim, click here.
Employers that need a contact can reach out to Jeanette Canady. If you have any challenges with this process, please let us know.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
It’s helpful to start the process as soon as you are able. You don’t have to wait for insurance coverage determinations or claims denials to apply for SBA programs. SBA loans are geared towards helping survivors recover with very low interest rates compared to the regular lending market and easy repayment terms. Learn more.
Webinar & Materials: SBA Resources for All Businesses Impacted by Helene
U.S. Chamber Businesses Recovery
The U.S. Chamber Foundation’s National Disaster Help Desk can help businesses and organizations both in the impact area and looking to support the impact area. It can be reached at 888-MY-BIZ-HELP (or 888-692-4943).
Additionally, they offer this online resource to help businesses take care of their employees’ needs, communicate the impact, address financial matters (e.g., insurance, disaster assistance), restore operations, and organize recovery.
Local Chambers
If you are providing critical services during the recovery, ask your local emergency manager to sign an agreement clearly outlining your work to help you qualify for federal support later. Also save all receipts related to providing critical services.
Your local chamber colleagues want to support you and have offered the following suggestions.
- Reroute your phones to us.
- Think about work that can be done remotely and delegate it to us. For example:
- Establishing a process for grant application and distributions.
- Tell us what kind of volunteers you need and where.
- Send us a list of what you need and where to send it or who to coordinate it through (portable restrooms, supplies, etc.).
To make one of these asks of your local chamber colleagues, please click here.
Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (CACCE) has a Disaster Fund to assist its members in times of natural disasters. To learn more, and/or apply, click here.
Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund
A partnership between DoorDash and Hello Alice, restaurants, gastropubs and bakeries with brick & mortar locations that have lost revenue from a disaster may apply for $10,000 grant awards from the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund. Click here for the application link and eligibility requirements, the program is accepting entries for this round until Monday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. EST.
Farms and Agribusinesses
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has activated its hotline to connect farmers with resources that can assist with damage and other agricultural emergencies related to the storm. The toll-free number is 1-866-645-9403. A live operator will be available on the hotline between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Farmers can also find recovery resources here.
Homeowners and Renters
North Carolina homeowners and renters in 25 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. Learn more here.
Mental Health
The N.C. Medical Society reminds us that the impact of Hurricane Helene is felt far beyond the physical devastation. Click here for a list of mental health resources on their website.
Public Safety: Shelter, Missing Persons, Etc.
The N.C. Department of Public Safety has compiled a list of resources here. Learn more here.
FEMA is directing people to a number of national, state, and local resources.
- The American Red Cross has more than 850 trained disaster workers providing comfort and operating shelters. They are also helping find loved ones through their helpline 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Reunification page, where you can enter pertinent information about the person you’re looking for.
- If someone is missing a child related to this disaster or any other incident, they need to call 9-1-1 and then 1-800-THE-LOST to receive assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
- People can receive free services like cutting fallen trees, tarping roofs, and mold mitigation with the help of Crisis Cleanup by calling 844-965-1386. The hotline is open through October 11 and can connect people with volunteers from local relief organizations, community groups, and the faith-based community who may be able to assist.
North Carolina 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.