$200 million in FEMA grants approved in North Carolina a month after Helene

A month after Helene ravaged much of western North Carolina, teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are still going door to door and connecting impacted residents to emergency financial aid. 

In Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties, FEMA has approved just over $19 million worth of disaster grants for a total of 12,480 households. 

According to Shirley Tracey, a FEMA spokesperson, over $200 million has been distributed to 121,000 households across all affected areas in North Carolina. 

Though what aid from FEMA looks like will change as the months pass, Tracey added that the agency’s disaster assistance workers will continue signing residents up for disaster grants. 

"Putting the money in people’s pockets is really a major step forward in the recovery process," Tracey said. "It’s one step, it’s not the entire thing, but it is certainly a major step to jumpstart the recovery for homeowners and for renters." 

Tracey said as the first month post-Helene comes to a close, the federal agency is working to move the 3,700 families placed in short-term rentals and hotels into a more stable living situation. 

Those affected can also visit disasterassistance.gov, download the FEMA app, call 1-800-621-FEMA or visit one of their county's FEMA disaster recovery centers to apply for federal assistance. 

Santiago Ochoa covers healthcare for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. Follow him on X and Instagram: @santi8a98