County gets more than $16 million for relief
By Steve Herring
Published in News on December 28, 2016 10:04 AM
More than $16.25 million in federal disaster aid has been pumped into Wayne County as of Dec. 26 in response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew.
Of that total, $8,632,812 is in Federal Emergency Management Agency/State Disaster Assistance funds and $7,618,500 is from Small Business Administration disaster loans as of Dec. 21.
The SBA has approved 186 loans in the county. That includes 164 home loans for a total of $6,219,300; 21 business loans for $1,377,600; and one economic injury loan for $21,600.
The total FEMA/State Disaster Assistance approved statewide is $85,762,623.
Statewide, the SBA has approved 1,918 disaster loans for a total of $70,225,600 as of Dec. 12.
In Wayne County, 6,439 registrations have been filed with FEMA while statewide there have been a total of 78,185 registrations.
Visits to the Wayne County Disaster Recovery Center at the W.A. Foster Center total 2,853.
Of the local total of $8,632,812 in Federal Emergency Management Agency/State Disaster Assistance, $5,920,137 is for housing assistance and $2,712,675 for other needs assistance.
The Individuals and Households Program Other Needs Assistance helps people provides money, up to the program maximum, for necessary expenses and serious needs, not housing related, that can't be met through other means.
Other needs assistance under Individuals and Households Program includes personal property; childcare; medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; and transportation.
FEMA assistance is not taxable income and does not affect benefits from any other federal program.
"Federal disaster assistance is not taxable," said Debra J. Young, a FEMA spokesman. "And, the IRS has expanded tax relief to Hurricane Matthew survivors in North Carolina. Storm survivors in designated counties have until March 15, 2017, to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments.
"This includes an additional filing extension for those with valid extensions that ran out at midnight Oct. 17, 2016. Taxpayers in counties added later to the disaster area will automatically receive the same filing and payment relief. Details on available tax relief can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov."
Monday, Jan. 9, is the deadline for registering for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
People may apply at the FEMA/State Disaster Recovery Center in the W.A. Foster Center at Mina Weil Park.
Other registration options include going online at DisasterAssistance.gov, downloading the FEMA mobile app or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).
Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY should call 1-800-462-7585 directly.
For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 1-800-621-3362.
Once registered, survivors can check their application online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
While at the site, survivors, if needed, can update any changes to mailing addresses, phone numbers or email addresses.
If they have received insurance settlements or discover additional damages, they also can report these.
For more information on North Carolina's recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4285 and readync.org.