BURGAW — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced today that the deadline for victims of Hurricane Florence to register for FEMA assistance has been extended to Dec. 19, according to a release from the governor’s office.
The original deadline was set for tonight at 11:59 p.m.
Cooper was scheduled to visit a home damaged by Florence on Shaw Highway in Rocky Point Thursday afternoon. The home was in a community near the Northeast Cape Fear River, which flooded extensively in the week after the hurricane struck the region.
“We want to make sure that our hurricane survivors get the help they need to get their lives back on track,” Cooper said. “I urge anyone impacted by Hurricane Florence to register with FEMA right away.”
He said the extension was made to give North Carolinians more time to register with FEMA, the first step in applying for the federal agency’s assistance programs.
According to the release, Cooper continues to work with North Carolina representatives in the U.S. Congress to secure $8.8 billion in total federal funds for victims of Hurricane Florence, including programs to provide assistance for housing, farms, businesses, and roads.
On Tuesday FEMA eclipsed $1 billion in North Carolina recovery funding, according to FEMA spokesperson Rebecca Kelly.
The governor’s office reminded individuals and businesses with uninsured losses that they can register in the following ways before the deadline:
- Calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362 or 800-662-7585 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
- Register online at disasterassistance.gov.
- Download the FEMA mobile app.
- Download the ReadyNC app.
Cooper’s office also reminded those who register with FEMA may be eligible for a number of assistance programs:
- Individual Assistance – Helps pay for losses not covered by insurance for things like basic repairs, rental assistance and replacing personal property.
- Housing Help – Includes temporary housing in hotels, apartments, travel trailers and manufactured housing.
- Low-Interest Loans – Through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), which offers low-interest loans to homeowners, renters and businesses.”
For more information on North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Florence, visit ncdps.gov/Florence and FEMA.gov/Disaster/4393.
