Thousands get aid after Irene

FEMA has granted $75.8 million in requests to individuals and municipalities in 37 North Carolina counties for help with damage from Hurricane Irene.

Posted 7:15 p.m. Sep 26, 2011 — Updated 1:04 p.m. Sep 27, 2011

A North Carolina spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided a detailed list Monday of the aid flowing to the Tar Heel state in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

Hurricane Irene recovery in NC (Sept. 22, 2011)

The hurricane swept up the North Carolina coast Aug. 27, leaving homes flooded, roads washed out and fishing businesses damaged along the shorelines of ocean and sound.

Since that time, 26,477 people have applied for assistance from FEMA, spokeswoman Julia Jarema said. That aid could range from a simple referral to temporary housing. FEMA also helps storm victims pay for repair to damaged homes and covers some disaster-related medical expenses and/or personal items (such as clothing) that were destroyed/lost in the storm.

Those with hurricane-related losses in Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne and Wilson counties are eligible for help from FEMA.

The agency has granted $75.8 million in requests to individuals and municipalities in 37 North Carolina counties, Jarema said. The greatest amount of that public aid – more than $10 million – went to Craven County. More people in Beaufort County registered for assistance than in any other county. More than 3,100 people in that county got $3.3 million in aid.

How to get aid from FEMA

Apply by phone: Call 800-621-FEMA or TTY at 800-462-7485 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. Operators are multilingual. If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS) call 800-621-3362.

Apply online: By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov; By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov or download FEMA's app for Android phones: https://market.android.com/details?id=gov.fema.mobile.android.

When registering, you will need the following information:

Social Security number;
Current mailing address;
Address of the damaged property;
A brief description of the damages; and
Any insurance information, including the policy number and the name of your agent.
A phone number where you can be reached.

Assistance from FEMA could include:

Temporary housing - money to rent a different place to live;

Repairs - grants to repair some of the disaster-related damage that is not covered by insurance; and

Other needs assistance - grants for necessary and serious needs caused by the disaster. This includes medical, dental, funeral, personal property, transportation, vehicle repair or replacement, moving and storage and other expenses that FEMA approves.

Find FEMA offices:

Click on a red cross for FEMA office locations and hours.

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