North Carolina Disaster Assistance Tops $5.1 Million 

Release Date: November 12, 2010
Release Number: 1942-031
» More Information on North Carolina Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-line Winds associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole

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ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. --  Eastern North Carolina residents have received more than $5.1 million in federal and state grants and loans during the past four weeks to help them recover from severe storms and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Nicole.
“All remaining Disaster Recovery Centers are closing tomorrow, but disaster assistance is still available to eligible homeowners and renters who register by Dec. 13 with the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” State Emergency Management Director Doug Hoell said.
Individuals may receive grants for housing and other needs from FEMA and state programs and
low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Businesses and nonprofit organizations of all sizes may apply for disaster loans, but are not eligible for grants.
To date:

• More than $2.8 million has been approved from FEMA's Individuals and Households Program for temporary housing and home repairs.
• More than $754,700 has been approved in Other Needs Assistance, a joint state-federal program that helps to replace personal property and pay medical, dental, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs.
• More than $1.5 million has been approved in SBA low-interest disaster loans.

Homeowners and renters who applied to FEMA for disaster assistance and received SBA loan applications are urged to complete and return them to the SBA by the Dec. 13 deadline. A completed SBA loan application is a critical component to be considered for some financial disaster assistance from FEMA.
“If you haven't registered, don't wait any longer – there are only 30 days left,” said Federal Coordinating Officer W. Montague Winfield.
More than 2,900 residents have visited Disaster Recovery Centers operated jointly by FEMA and the State of North Carolina, with support from the SBA.
In other figures as of Nov. 12:

• More than 4,000 people have registered with FEMA for disaster assistance.
• More than 3,300 damaged homes have been inspected by FEMA.
• More than 5,400 in-person contacts have been made by state and FEMA Community Relations specialists. They’ve visited more than 4,400 homes, more than 1,000 businesses, more than 300 community-based organizations and more than 500 faith-based organizations, providing information in English and Spanish.
• Nearly 18,500 pieces of literature have been distributed by FEMA mitigation specialists in Disaster Recovery Centers and at outreach locations in 11 home improvement stores. Publications range from technical rebuilding manuals to handouts with information about how to make a family disaster plan or get a pet ready in an emergency.

Individuals can register for disaster assistance with FEMA by going online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585.
For more information about this disaster, go to www.ncem.org and www.fema.gov.
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.