FEMA is here to help you one-on-one.
Whether you need to complete your registration, submit documents, or review your case, FEMA team members are ready to assist. FEMA can provide support with rental assistance, home repairs, personal property, transportation needs, and more.
Don’t Wait to Clean Up or Make Repairs
Residents with home damage after Helene do not need to wait for a FEMA home inspection or insurance adjuster before beginning to clean up. Typically, after a survivor applies for disaster assistance, they will be contacted by a FEMA inspector within a few days to schedule an appointment. Before starting any structural work, be sure to get a building permit from your local building authorities.
Before starting clean up, be sure to take photos and videos of damage, including the inside and outside of the building, including personal property, appliances, furniture, etc. Be sure to also save all your repair receipts. After taking photos and videos, immediately throw away flood-damaged items as they could pose a health risk.
North Carolina has officially received a Major Disaster Declaration, making individuals in Madison County eligible for Individual Assistance through the FEMA. Individual Assistance provides financial aid and services to eligible individuals and households that have been affected by a disaster to assist with the recovery process.
Individuals can officially begin applying for Individual Assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. EST.
FEMA’s Multifamily Lease and Repair program
FEMA is seeking information from owners of multifamily properties that can be repaired to local, state and federal standards and be offered as temporary housing to survivors impacted by Tropical Storm Helene. The deadline for replies to this request for information is Nov. 6, 2024.
Multifamily Lease and Repair (MLR) is a form of temporary housing assistance that allows FEMA to repair or make improvements to existing multifamily rental/residential property for the purpose of providing temporary housing to eligible FEMA applicants. The properties in MLR are to be offered as temporary housing to eligible disaster survivors. The properties must be available for a term of no less than 18 months, with the option of lease extension. The properties should be complexes that are able to accommodate a considerable number of people in a single location.
Each property must have been previously used as a multifamily housing complex and contain multiple rental units. Hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, etc. are not considered residential properties and are not authorized for MLR. The site must be repairable to local, state, and federal regulations within a four-month period and cannot be located in a floodway. MLR is not intended to repair or improve individual units to rehouse existing tenants.
Interested property owner or management companies must provide responses and comments no later than 5 p.m. EST, Nov. 6, 2024, via email to fema-mlr_dr4827nc@fema.dhs.gov. The email subject line should read: RFI #70FBR425-MLR-DR4827NC Response: MLR-DR-4827-NC. More information about this opportunity can be found at SAM.gov.
What is Direct Lease?
FEMA is currently seeking interested, qualified owners or property management companies to help meet the temporary housing needs for disaster survivors by leasing their properties directly to FEMA.
Direct Lease is a form of Direct Temporary Housing Assistance that allows FEMA to lease existing, ready-to-occupy residential properties for survivors whose temporary housing needs cannot be met with other forms of assistance. FEMA will pay the property management company/vendor the cost of rent, while the survivor is responsible for utility costs and other expenses not covered in the lease.
Potential property management companies are mainly being sought in western North Carolina within a 30- to up to 60-minute drive of the affected areas or a distance that does not place an undue hardship on the survivor. However, FEMA encourages all interested property management companies to consider participating.
Interested property owner or management companies must provide responses and comments on or before 5 p.m. EST, November 6, 2024, via email to fema direct_lease_dr4827nc@fema.dhs.gov. The email subject line should read: RFI# 70FBR425-DL-DR4827NC. More information about this opportunity can be found at SAM.gov.
Be Careful of Fraud!
Be aware that FEMA reps all wear a hard laminated id card. Ask for the official id if you are approached by someone stating they are from FEMA or wearing FEMA clothing. They should be able to produce their official id. The official FEMA and disaster assistance sites all end in .gov. Sites that end in .org or .com, etc. are not actually FEMA. Be mindful of sharing your personal information.
Find a FEMA Center: fema.gov/drc
Apply Online: DisasterAssistance.gov
