90 days later, Part IV: County residents and businesses get nearly $17 million in disaster aid
By Steve Herring
Published in News on January 9, 2017 10:01 AM
As of close of business Thursday nearly $17 million in disaster aid had been approved for Wayne County residents and businesses.
That amount includes $8,811,948.73 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and $8,044,800 in Small Business Administration Loans.
The $8,811,948.73 includes $6,033,620.97 in housing assistance and $2,778,327.76 in other needs assistance that includes personal property; child care; medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; and transportation.
There are still 133 Wayne County households in the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program.
Even though the program has been extended in two 14-day increments beyond the original Jan. 7 deadline, families must be working on a housing plan and are not guaranteed an extension.
Those still looking for housing can search using FEMA's housing portal https://asd.fema.gov/inter/hportal/home.htm.
As of Friday, 3,195 visits had been recorded at the Wayne County Disaster Relief Center.
The most important thing is to stay in touch with FEMA if you are having difficulty by calling the Helpline at 800-621-3362.
The SBA has approved 200 loans totaling $8,044,800.
Of that total, $6,476,400 is for disaster home loans; $1,546,800 for disaster business loans; and $21,600 for economic injury disaster loans.
Registrations at the Wayne County Disaster Recovery Center in the W.A. Foster building totaled 6,523 through Thursday afternoon. The center closed Friday afternoon.
Statewide registrations totaled 79,148 as of close of business on Thursday.:
Total assistance approved thus far is $87,506,134.15.
SBA disaster loans approved statewide total 2,049 for $75,320,500.
Of that total, $57,459,200 is for disaster home loans; $16,932,900 for disaster business loans; and $928,400 for economic injury disaster loans.
Monday, Jan. 9, is the deadline for registering for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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.
FEMA assistance is not taxable income and does not affect benefits from any other federal program.