Over the last few weeks, our state has been hit hard by mother nature. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene is astounding. I, along with Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, Rep. Greg Murphy, and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler, visited those affected by Hurricane Helene this week. We’re all working hard to make sure North Carolina gets the help they need and deserve. In the meantime, let us keep everyone in prayer and continue to help those in need. Below, you will find resources and information regarding the response to Helene and how we can best serve our neighbors.
Some important points to keep in mind: FEMA programs weren’t designed for devastation of this magnitude. In my opinion, this storm is going to prove to be more costly than any in recorded history. Second, it is true FEMA will run out of funding but not until the end of November. Third, Congress will definitely pass a supplemental assistance package addressing those shortfalls and it will likely be in the multiple billion dollar range — perhaps even greater depending on the need.
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Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc throughout the Southeast, leaving many areas flooded with a lot of damage to infrastructure and homes as well as entire communities. It has been inspiring to see so many North Carolinians come together and help those across the state. Below is information on how you can get involved.
Where and What to Donate
- The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund has been established to help those in need from hurricane damage.
- Donate medical supplies through the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Contractors looking to assist with rebuilding efforts, complete the survey, and then email beoc@ncdps.gov to get registered.
- Private helicopters and civilians self-deploying are welcome to drop off supplies at the Rutherford County Airport. While they appreciate the assistance of helicopter pilots and aviation services, coordination is key. NCDPS advises that private pilots should coordinate with Lindsay Duke at 828-851-0777 before flying. For regular updates, text AlertRC to 888777.
- If you or someone you know is running a collection site, go nc211.org to be added to the website.
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To report a missing person or request a welfare check-in
- Constituents of District 7 should call NC211 (1-888-892-1162) to report a missing person or request a welfare check. Select option 1 after choosing your preferred language to be connected to an operator.
- Text the word PERSON to 40403.
To search for a loved one
- To search for a loved one, the Red Cross is receiving inquiries and sending volunteers to search the impacted areas, a form can be found here.
- Additionally, people in the impacted areas can indicate that they are safe by reporting themselves safe through Red Cross Reunification by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can also call Duke Energy at 1-800-419-6356 to report power outages or text “OUT” to 57801.
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The damage incurred from Hurricane Helene will reach historic levels and take years to recover. Knowledge and understanding of the storm’s strength prompted a request from the Governor and approval by the President for an expedited Federal Emergency Declaration on September 26, ahead of Hurricane Helene’s impact to the state, allowing federal resources to be deployed before the storm hit.
In the storm’s aftermath, the apparent and immediate damage prompted further action by the Governor to request Hurricane Helene as a Major Disaster, which makes the recovery efforts eligible for federal support, such as Public Assistance and Individual Assistance.
In the coming weeks, federal, state, and local partners will conduct damage assessments to understand the financial needs for recovery. Given the degree of the damage, FEMA must be thorough to ensure enough funds are appropriated. Although Helene has already been declared a Major Disaster by President Biden, it is helpful to understand the process required to reach such a Declaration.
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Further, as a part of H.R.9747 – Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, Congress provided necessary flexibility for FEMA to lift the “immediate needs funding status” of the agency, allowing it to respond to all activities related to current and prior disasters and allowing the agency access to more than $20 billion in disaster recovery funds. This flexibility allows FEMA to begin the recovery and rebuilding process, and not just life-saving activities.
Individual Assistance
FEMA provides assistance to individuals and families who have suffered losses and have outstanding needs as a result of a major disaster. These programs can provide eligible victims with assistance for home repairs, temporary housing, and other needs such as medical, dental and funeral expenses resulting from the disaster.
Additionally, other programs can include crisis counseling and disaster unemployment assistance. FEMA considers multiple factors including:
- Concentration of damages to individuals: High concentrations of damages to
individuals, such as destroyed and damaged housing, may indicate a greater need for Federal assistance than widespread and scattered damages throughout a State.
- Trauma: The degree of trauma to communities are considered, with special attention to large numbers of injuries and deaths, large scale disruptions to normal community functions and services, and emergency needs, such as extended or widespread losses of power or water.
- Special Populations: FEMA considers the impact of the disaster on special populations, such as the low-income, the elderly, and the unemployed. Special consideration is also “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.”
- Voluntary agency assistance: The capabilities of local and State voluntary, faith, and community-based organizations are taken into consideration, as these entities play an important role in meeting both the emergency and recovery needs of individuals impacted by disasters.
- Insurance: Stafford Act assistance is supplemental in nature, and therefore the level of insurance coverage is taken into account; primarily to qualify the scope of necessary assistance.
Public Assistance
FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program provides supplemental assistance to State, local and tribal governments to cover what these entities cannot. FEMA considers multiple factors when working through this:
- Estimated cost of the assistance: FEMA evaluates the estimated cost of Federal and non-Federal public assistance against the statewide population to give some measure of the percapita impact within the State. FEMA uses a per capita amount as an indicator that the disaster is of such size and magnitude that it might warrant Federal assistance and adjusts this figure annually based on the Consumer Price Index.
- Local impacts: FEMA evaluates the impact of the disaster at the county and local government levels, as well as at the American Indian and Alaskan Native Tribal Government levels, because, at times, there are extraordinary concentrations of damages that might warrant Federal assistance even if the statewide per capita is not met. This is particularly true where critical facilities such as major roadways, bridges, public buildings are affected. For example, localized damages may be in the tens or even hundreds of dollars per capita, even though the overall statewide per capita impact is low.
- Insurance coverage in force: FEMA considers the amount of insurance coverage that is in force or should have been in force as required by law and regulation at the time of then disaster, and reduces the amount of anticipated assistance by that amount.
- Hazard mitigation: FEMA considers the extent to which State and local government measures contributed to the reduction of disaster damages.
Additional Resources
For more information on FEMA resources, please see the following fact sheets:
- Disaster Declaration Process and Federal Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet
- FEMA Assistance for North Carolinians Fact Sheet
- Updates to the Individual Assistance Fact Sheet
- Public Assistance Application and Eligibility Fact Sheet
- Public Assistance Fact Sheet
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As we have seen with the devastation of Hurricane Helene, make sure you have multiple ways to receive severe weather warnings, like a weather alert app on your phone or a NOAA weather radio in your home. Tune in to local TV news when severe weather threatens. Additionally, there are multiple websites with trusted sources of information on such events, including:
Before traveling, please check road conditions using DriveNC.gov. This excellent resource features a live with real-time updates regarding road closures from flooding.
To date, most roads in Western North Carolina are considered closed to civilian traffic. Recovery and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing throughout the region, please respect the work of local first responders and stay clear of the area when traveling.
For more information, visit rouzer.house.gov/hurricane.
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Information for voters in Helene disaster areas for the 2024 general election can be found HERE.
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