Victims of Helene in North Carolina receive millions in federal grants

Though a threat to Federal Emergency Management Agency workers’ safety hindered operations over the weekend, officials say on-the-ground efforts have resumed. 

One leg of these efforts is represented by FEMA's disaster assistance teams, which have reached thousands in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties and connected them with federal financial assistance.  

The numbers

As of Tuesday, Oct. 15, about $7.5 million worth of FEMA disaster grants have been approved for a combined 8,390 residents across the three counties. This does not include the $750, also known as Serious Needs Assistance, that was distributed to meet immediate demand for essentials like food and water.

Disaster grants, as FEMA spokesperson Shirley Tracey explained, are designed to meet the next set of essentials people may have lost after Helene. 

"For what is uninsured or underinsured, FEMA may be able to help there," Tracey said. "That’s for home repairs or personal items such as clothing or your essential items like a washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, the furnace, the air conditioning unit, your automobile if its your primary vehicle and its necessary."

Tracey says about 35 disaster survivor assistance workers are going door-to-door in northwestern North Carolina getting more residents signed up. 

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