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Helene Recovery Info

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 here, and additional resources are provided below.

Support for critical, immediate needs: Our short-term focus is helping connect our neighbors support for immediate and critical needs. 

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 will likely require proof of FEMA application before you accepting your applications for other resources.

Apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) with the state of NC by December 2. 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: 1-888-737-0259
  • Visit NCWorks in person: 339 New Leicester Hwy, Suite 140, Asheville 28806 (inside Land of Sky Regional Council office)

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.

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: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
  • Visit them in person at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce (36 Montford Ave, Asheville) or the Appalachian Enterprise Center in Boone (130 Poplar Grove Connector, Boone) Mon-Fri from 9a-6p or Saturday from 9a-3p.

Disaster response/immediate needs resources

Regional Resources

Local Resources

Support for food and beverage service workers impacted by Hurricane Helene

 

Emergency Financial Management

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.

Small business support: Our community’s economy thrives because of our rich small business network.

Other important resources:

  • Anna Booraem
    Anna Booraem
  • Shanae Johnson
    Shanae Johnson
  • Wayne & Jodi Mott
    Wayne & Jodi Mott
  • William Raynor
    William Raynor
  • Lucia Daugherty
    Lucia Daugherty
  • Julie Perley
    Julie Perley
  • Bailey Gartman
    Bailey Gartman
  • Diana Honeycut
    Diana Honeycut
  • Lisa Gaskin
    Lisa Gaskin
  • Carmen Govea
    Carmen Govea
  • Kelly Jackson
    Kelly Jackson
  • Jordan Barlow
    Jordan Barlow
  • Susan Mosley
    Susan Mosley
  • Jessica Turner and Robert Forbes
    Jessica Turner and Robert Forbes
  • Amber Williams
    Amber Williams
  • Emily and Jordan Stanley
    Emily and Jordan Stanley
  • Marie Collins
    Marie Collins
  • Brittany Ferguson
    Brittany Ferguson
  • Latoya Gardner
    Latoya Gardner