GREENSBORO, N.C. — For those whose homes were destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricane Helene, state officials say money to repair or rebuild is on the way. They just don't know when it will be available.
"The recovery from Helene will take a very long time, but we're here to support Western North Carolinians for the long haul,” said Carolina Siliceo-Perez, with the NC Department of Health and Human Services. “While we may not have all of the answers for every particular situation.”
On Wednesday, the North Carolina Department of Health Services hosted a town hall with nonprofits, state leaders, and federal agencies to discuss recovery efforts, detailing step by step how people can get help paying for utilities, temporary housing, long-term shelters, and a plan to rebuild and repair their homes permanently.
"We are providing multiple temporary housing options to meet North Carolinians' individual needs,” said Nicole Dyson, FEMA director. “One of those programs that was mentioned was a transitional sheltering assistance program through hotels and motels, which is where FEMA will directly pay a hotel provider that has registered with FEMA. We will reimburse them directly for a stay for up to 14-day increments and longer term if necessary. The goal is to provide for the immediate needs of survivors as we move them to a longer-term housing solution.”
However, state officials acknowledge it’s not enough. They hope the aid will help folks get by until Congress approves more funding, which would come in the form of grants to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"FEMA can only do so much in terms of housing repair,” said Laura Hogshead, with the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency. “The maximum award is $42,500. That is not going to get someone home if their house was destroyed. The HUD funds can be the backstop that help you get home."
The DHHS plans to provide another update on recovery efforts on December 11. In the meantime, there are 21 FEMA disaster recovery centers where people can apply for assistance.
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