Helene Disaster Resources

OnTrack is committed to supporting our neighbors as they navigate the many financial complexities of recovery from Hurricane Helene. Our friends at Legal Aid of North Carolina have developed the helpful Disaster Recovery Handbook linked in the gold button, and additional resources are provided below.

Legal Aid Disaster Recovery Handbook

OnTrack Hurricane Helene Hotline (828) 341-1030 open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11a to 1p. Talk with an OnTrack counselor about your Helene-related personal finance questions. No appointment required.

Recovering Financially from Hurricane Helene Zoom Class: Thursdays from 4:30-5:30p. Register here.

Recovery Resources

Apply for FEMA assistance. Even if you think your needs are not great, you should still register with FEMA so that our Federal partners can accurately assess the scope of the disaster and allocate all possible resources to our recovery. As other assistance becomes available in the weeks and months ahead they may require proof of FEMA application before you accepting your applications for other resources. Online applications are automatically declined if two applications are received for the same address. Call or visit FEMA and they can help override denials. Deadline to apply is January 7.

Apply online: https://www.disasterassistance.gov or via phone: 1-800-621-3362
For assistance submitting a FEMA application or a FEMA denial appeal:
- Visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. Most are open 7-days each week from 8:00a to 7:00p and offer other services such as water, food or comfort stations.
  - Asheville: Asheville Mall - old GAP store in JC Penney wing (3 S Tunnel Rd, 28805)
  - Hendersonville: Blue Ridge Commons (2111 Asheville Hwy, 28791)
  - For other locations and details click here
- Contact Pisgah Legal Services via email at online@pisgahlegal.org or via phone at 828-253-0406 for assistance with initial application and denials.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) with the state of NC by December 9. This assistance is for folks whose employment was lost or interrupted, including small business owners and self-employed individuals.

More info and apply online: https://www.des.nc.gov/dua
More info and apply via phone: 888-737-0259
Visit NCWorks in person: 339 New Leicester Hwy, Suite 140, Asheville 28806 (inside Land of Sky Regional Council office)
NOTE: Folks applying for DUA will FIRST be routed to a traditional unemployment insurance application portal with traditional unemployment screening questions. After that piece of the application is submitted the system will then route them to the DUA-specific questions. When the state receives the application the will first screen it for traditional unemployment eligibility and then for DUA eligibility.

File an insurance claim for damage to your vehicles, living place and personal belongings as soon as possible. As with FEMA, as new recovery resources come online the future those applications will ask if you have submitted an insurance claim prior to approving you for other types of assistance.

Car, homeowners or renters’ insurance policies often cover damage to personal belongings or offer support to pay for rental cars or alternative accommodation.
Take photos of all damage before you clean it up and save receipts related to all disaster-related expenses.
Save all correspondence, including denial notices as you may need them to support applications for other assistance in the future.
If you believe that your insurance company is not giving you a fair settlement offer you can dispute it directly with the company, file a complaint with the NC Department of Insurance, or contact an attorney for support. Pisgah Legal Services may be able to help: email online@pisgahlegal.org or call them at 828-253-0406. OnTrack counselors can also help you navigate and understand this process.

Apply for a disaster loan via the SBA (Small Business Administration (SBA): These loans are available to businesses, homeowners and renters to cover costs not covered by FEMA. Apply online or visit them in person at any FEMA site (see above) or at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce (36 Montford Ave, Asheville) or the Appalachian Enterprise Center in Boone (130 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone).

Hazard Mitigation Grants: FEMA works with counties to buy out properties in flood zones, or to help homeowners pay for the costs to raise their structure above the flood line. Watch this 10min webinar, or learn more here.

Nonprofit Home Repair Support:

Asheville Regional Coalition for Home Repair serving Buncombe and Madison counties

Support for small businesses

Asheville Small Business Recovery Guide - a great online resource for small business owners
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Business Recovery Center - get resources in person
Mountain BizWorks WNC Strong: Helene Business Recovery Fund will provide direct assistance to impacted businesses
ASAP and USDA are supporting local farmers and farms in their recovery
Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low interest disaster assistance loans
NC Small Business Center Network (SBCN) Helene Disaster Relief resources
Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) Hurricane Helene Business Recovery webpage
City of Hendersonville business resources
Transylvania County Transylvania Tomorrow Small Business Emergency Relief Fund
Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce Mountain Strong Fund for Business Recovery
Explore Asheville Always Asheville Fund for travel and hospitality businesses

Support for food and beverage service workers

Support for artists and craftspeople

Support for farmers

Emergency Personal Financial Management

Attend OnTrack's one-hour Zoom: Recovering Financially from Hurricane Helene every Thursday from 4:30-5:30p with time for your questions.

Personal finance disaster triage

Review all your bills and due dates to avoid missed and late payments
Set up autopay when possible so that you can focus on your critical needs instead of worrying about paying your bills on time
Call your credit card companies and loan servicers to request a grace period on payments. Ask them if they can offer zero interest, a reduction in interest, to waive late payment fees, and/or if you can skip one or two payments going into default. Try to get confirmation of their response in writing.
Keep track of and secure important personal documents, especially identity documents including your social security number
Freeze your credit with each of the three credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. More information here. Unfortunately, there are often spikes in identity theft and other financial crimes during disasters.
Set up a filing system for important documents, photos of damage, insurance claims. Taking pictures of documents with your phone can help you quickly access important information.

Report price gouging: After disasters, some vendors take advantage of consumers by spiking prices in disaster areas. This is illegal! If you suspect price gouging, take a photo of the price and note the full name and address of the business or vendor

Report price gouging in North Carolina online or via phone (1-877-5-NO-SCAM)
Report price gouging in South Carolina online or via phone (803-737-3953)

Home repair and insurance scams: It is very common for actual and supposed contractors to try to make an extra buck during disasters. You can report disaster fraud here. Follow these tips when hiring contractors to support your recovery:

Expect shady contractors to be making the rounds. These actors often show up unannounced in impacted neighborhoods and communities.
Ask for and review the company’s website, Facebook page, Better Business Bureau listing and online reviews
Beware of promises for quick fixes or repairs. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Never pay in full up front.
Only pay a deposit with a signed contract that includes a detailed description of the work to be performed, the date by which it will be finished, the address where the work will be performed, the full cost of the work, and signatures from both the company representative and you.
Only pay in full when all work is completed.

Other Scams: Review these tips from NC Attorney General. You can report disaster fraud here. Bad actors take advantage of the victims of natural disasters with a variety of tactics and scams including:

False news reports and rumors. FEMA shares common disaster-related rumors, hurricane rumors, and Hurricane Helene rumors with fact checks. The best source of information is your local government and trusted non-profits. See links above.
Phone or email requests for personal information or bank details that appear legitimate. Always verify who you are speaking with before sharing confidential information.
Requests for donations. Beware folks going door-to-door requesting cash and supplies

Renters’ rights: Landlords must go through the legal system to evict tenants; no tenant should be locked out of their unit. Tenants whose rental units have sustained damage should have the option of cancelling their lease or staying in the property and requiring the landlord to make repairs. If possible, it is recommended that you continue to make rent payments to avoid an eviction for nonpayment. Pisgah Legal Services is offering pro-bono support to tenants and can be reached via email at online@pisgahlegal.org or via phone at 828-253-0406.

Tax Relief: The IRS has announced disaster tax relief for all individuals and businesses in North Carolina. Taxpayers now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

Other important resources: