Disaster Assistance
Hurricane Isaias is just the latest storm to affect our region in the last few years. Our office is here to help assist recovery and rebuilding efforts in any way possible. North Carolinians who face unmet needs from Hurricanes Isaias, Matthew, Florence or Dorian may find help through other state and federal resources. If you need assistance navigating these resources, please do not hesitate to call one of our offices.
Federal Assistance
Disaster Distress Helpline
If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by a recent disaster, call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 any time day or night to speak with a trained crisis counselor. Or text TalkWithUs to 66746. For Spanish, text Hablanos to 66746.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) operates the hotline. SAMSHA offers free, year-round disaster crisis counseling services. Additional information is available online at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Disaster Distress Helpline.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Economic injury disaster loans are available from the SBA to provide disaster-related working capital to small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations. These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The deadline to return economic injury disaster loan applications as a result of Hurricane Florence is June 14, 2019. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via the SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoan.sba.gov.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development
The Federal Housing Administration insures mortgages on single family and multifamily homes, including manufactured homes. Call 800-304-9320 or email recovery@hud.gov to learn about resources. To find an approved lender near you, visit the HUD Lender List Search.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency
Along with FEMA grants and SBA loans, farmers and ranchers may be eligible for emergency loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Eligible losses covered by emergency loans and other programs may include crops and livestock. For more information, go online to fsa.usda.gov or visit the nearest FSA office.
In addition, the Value Added Producer Grants program provides funding to help agricultural producers enter value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of new products.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
The USDA Rural Development can provide assistance to homeowners in rural areas. The USDA Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans Program, also known as Section 502 Direct Loan Program, helps low- and very-low-income families living in rural areas by providing payment assistance to increase an applicant’s repayment ability. Loan funds can be used to purchase homes in rural areas; as well as, to build, repair, renovate or relocate a home, or to purchase and prepare sites.
The USDA Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, also known as Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program, provides low- and moderate- income families living in rural areas with loan funds to build, rehabilitate, improve or relocate a dwelling in eligible rural communities.
The USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants, also known as Section 504 Home Repair Program, provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly (age 62 and older) very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The website for the Office for Civil Rights division of HHS provides information on effective planning, response and recovery for people who have special needs. Before, during and after a disaster, members of this population may have additional needs to maintain independence, communication, transportation, supervision and medical care.
Visit Office of Civil Rights Special Needs Training.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
If you need assistance seeking medication or care from the VA in the aftermath of a hurricane, please call the Veterans Disaster Response Line at 1-800-507-4571.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
For up-to-date resources and information on the federal response to Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Dorian. Please visit FEMA's Hurricane Florence Resource Page or FEMA's Hurricane Dorian Resource Page.
National Center for Disaster Fraud
If you suspect fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement of disaster relief operations, call the Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Calls can be made anonymously and confidentially.
State Assistance
Hurricane Recovery
For information regarding Hurricane Isaias recovery visit the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Isaias page here.
North Carolina Emergency Management Individual Assistance Helpline
The NCEM Individual Assistance Helpline is available for those who suffered property damage or loss as a result of a recent hurricane or have issues related to their unmet needs, housing assistance, repairs and medical equipment. Call 919-825-2378.
NC 2-1-1
Survivors with unmet needs may call the statewide information line which can provide callers with nearby shelter, housing and other storm-related details. Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162, or text FLORENCE or NCDORIAN to 898211. The information line is staffed around the clock to connect North Carolinians to disaster-related resources.
ReadyNC
ReadyNC provides resources for everything from traffic jams to hurricanes and ice storms. The app and website provide information on real-time traffic and weather conditions, river levels, evacuations and power outages.
Download the ReadyNC app or visit ReadyNC.org.
Housing
The NC Department of Human and Health Services, in partnership with the NC Coalition to End Homelessness, the NC Housing Finance Agency and other state agencies and partners, is continuing to house individuals and families affected by Hurricane Florence at risk of homelessness through the Back@Home initiative. Visit backathome.org to learn more.
Available Housing Information
North Carolina residents who have been displaced by a disaster may search for available housing on NCHousingSearch.org
Property owners and managers can add and/or update listings of available units. Login here or call toll-free 877-428-8844 for assistance.
Disaster Legal Services
Free legal services are available for low-income survivors of a disaster. Attorneys may be able to assist survivors with disaster-related legal matters. Call the Disaster Legal Services Hotline at 833-242-3549.
Insurance Hotline
If you need help with your insurance claim or settlements, call the NC Department of Insurance at 855-408-1212. For more information, go to NCHurriClaims.com.
Services for Seniors
North Carolina has many programs and services for seniors. Details are available on the NC Department of Health and Human Services website.
County Departments of Social Services
Every county in North Carolina has its own local social services agency. A directory with contact names, addresses and phone numbers is on the NC Department of Health and Human Services website.
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Services
The NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services works to promote excellence in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs for persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse disorders in North Carolina. Visit their website.
Local Contacts
Below you will find a list of local contact information that may be helpful following a disaster. Contacts include county emergency services, shelter information, local Sherriff’s Departments, Red Cross offices, local hospitals and helpful smartphone applications. If you are having trouble finding local contact information, please do not hesitate to call one of our offices.
County by County Emergency Departments:
- New Hanover County Emergency Services -- 910.798.6900
- Brunswick County Emergency Services -- 910.253.5383
- Pender County Emergency Services -- 910.259.1210
- Bladen County Emergency Services -- 910.862.6760
- Columbus County Emergency Services -- 910.640.6610
- Sampson County Emergency Services -- 910-592-8996
- Duplin County Emergency Services -- 910.296.2160
- Johnston County Emergency Operations Center -- 919.989.5050
- Wayne County Emergency Services -- 919.731.1416
Local Sheriff’s Departments:
Below is a county by county list of local Sherriff’s Departments in NC-07. Please contact your local Sherriff’s Department if you have an emergency and cannot get in contact with 9-1-1, your home is flooding, or you are trying to locate a missing person.
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Local Red Cross Contact Information:
| Triangle Area Chapter Raleigh Office Phone: (919) 231-1602 |
Cape Fear Chapter Wilmington Office Phone: (910) 762-9663 |
| Central North Carolina Chapter Durham Office Phone: (919) 489-6541 |
Sandhills Chapter Fayetteville Office Phone: (910) 867-8151 |
| Northeastern North Carolina Chapter Greenville Office Phone: (252) 355-38 |
Local Hospital Contact Information:
| Elizabethtown Cape Fear Valley - Bladen Healthcare 501 S Poplar St, Elizabethtown, NC 28337 910-862-5100 |
Whiteville |
| Southport Dosher Memorial Hospital 924 N Howe St, Southport, NC 28461 910-457-3800 |
Smithfield |
| Wilmington New Hanover Regional Medical Center 2131 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28401 910-667-7000 |
Clinton |
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Kenansville |
Goldsboro Wayne UNC Health Care 2700 Wayne Memorial Dr, Goldsboro, NC 27534 919-736-1110 |
| Wilmington New Hanover Regional Medical Center 2131 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28401 910-667-7000 |
United States Postal Service Information:
USPS Service Alerts provide information to consumers, small businesses and business mailers about postal facility service disruptions due to weather-related and other natural disasters or events. Customers can use this website to find if their mail is being delivered, or if their Post Offices are open.
Smartphone Apps to have during and after severe weather:
ReadyNC: Please visit ReadyNC.org for preparedness tips and the most recent updates on hurricane recovery. I would encourage you to download the ReadyNC mobile app for information on real-time traffic and weather conditions, river levels, open shelters, evacuations and power outages.
Red Cross Hurricane App: free; sends alerts from NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration); includes a flashlight, alarm and strobe light; for Apple and Android devices. The Red Cross also offers first aid apps for people and pets.
Zello: free; push-to-talk app, works like a walkie-talkie; needs Wi-Fi or data to operate; for Apple, Android, Windows and Blackberry devices and PCs.
AccuWeather: free; gives forecasts, radar and video; for Apple and Android devices.
NOAA Radar US: free; provides real-time radar images; gives National Weather Service alerts.
GasBuddy: GasBuddy has activated its fuel availability tracker so residents in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia can find gas more easily.
How We Can Help
If you have been denied for FEMA Disaster Assistance, you may have the opportunity to appeal the decision. Please contact one of our offices so that a member of our casework team can reach out to you in an effort to help resolve this matter.
Our four offices in Bolivia, Wilmington, Four Oaks and Washington, D.C. stand ready to assist you. Please call us if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach our Bolivia office by calling (910) 253-6111; our Wilmington office at (910) 395-0202; our Four Oaks office at (919) 938-3040 and Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-2731.
For Hurricane related casework needs, please contact Lisa Littler, Deputy District/Constituent Services Director, by calling 919-938-3040 or by emailing lisa.littler@mail.house.gov. Please be prepared to fill out a privacy form in order to move forward with assisting your casework needs.
FAQ
What do I do if my house is damaged and I need immediate shelter?
To view a list of emergency shelters in the 7th District, please click here. You can also locate options by zip code by visiting the American Red Cross, or Salvation Army, or by texting SHELTER and your zip code (for example, “SHELTER 01234”) to 4FEMA (43362). (Standard text message rates apply.)
Who do I call in an emergency?
Please try dialing 9-1-1 if you have a life-threatening emergency. If you are encountering flooding, are unable to locate a family member, or 9-1-1 is not answering, please click here to find the number of your local sheriff department.
How do I register to receive disaster assistance with FEMA?
Individuals and businesses wishing to receive disaster assistance may qualify to receive financial assistance. To see if you qualify:
- Use the address lookup on DisasterAssistance.gov to find out if you qualify for aid.
- Fill out the DisasterAssistance.gov questionnaire and online aid application.
- Call 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 1-800-462-7585)
- To get help in person, find a Disaster Recovery Center near you with the Disaster Recovery Center locator
For more information on disaster assistance, please click here.
Where do I find information on road closures?
For road updates from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, please call 5-1-1 or visit their website here. For real-time information on events affecting travel across the state, please visit the North Carolina DOT Travel Information Management System webpage.
How do I report a power outage?
To report a power outage with Duke Energy, please call 1-800-419-6356