A family in western North Carolina who lost their home after Hurricane Helen hit the Appalachian Mountains region last year received shocking news earlier this month. Temporary FEMA housing assistance may soon end, leaving families with nowhere to turn as temperatures dip below freezing.
The agency has begun notifying some families who have checked into hotel or motel rooms that they are ineligible for the Transitional Evacuation Assistance Program for one of the following reasons: Their home is habitable upon inspection. Please contact us to update any housing needs that have been demonstrated, have refused inspection, or have been refused inspection by FEMA.
The deadline, originally set for Friday, is now January 14th. FEMA Administrator DeAnne Criswell said those who received the notification and still need housing are still eligible, but must contact FEMA.
“There are a variety of reasons why someone received that notification,” Criswell explained Sunday.
Two Hurricane Helen victims, four family members and a talented Vietnam veteran camper will be honored on Christmas Day.
Some families in North Carolina are evacuated by Hurricane Helen and fear they may lose their temporary housing. (Peter Zai/Anadolu via Getty Images (left) & Win McNamee/Getty Images (right))
“What we do is we call everyone. We call them every two weeks to find out where they are, how things are going, and if they can be re-housed. But one of the biggest things is when we call, if we don't hear from them, all we can do is assume they're back at home. One thing I would like to see is if someone got that notification and hasn't come back yet. If they haven't talked to anyone at FEMA but their situation is still necessary, they are still eligible. We just want them to contact us so we can talk to them. Everyone will have their own unique situation. ” she added.
“We need to work with all of them individually to ensure they have the appropriate resources so they can remain in a safe location until their homes are rebuilt or accessible.”
North Carolinians who still need assistance can contact 1-800-621-FEMA or visit a disaster recovery center to speak with someone directly.
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In October, a man in Asheville, North Carolina, took to the street with his dog holding a sign that read, “We need help, we lost everything in the floods” after their camper was destroyed by Hurricane Helen about a month earlier. Couple Victoria (left) and Jeff standing together. 29, 2024. (Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images)
FEMA, already strained by the crisis left in Helen's wake, must also respond to the needs of families forced to evacuate as Southern California wildfires continue to burn after causing billions of dollars worth of damage. Must be.
Criswell told Fox News' Shannon Bream that Californians in need of assistance should register at: disaster assistance.gov Check with your personal insurance company to confirm your coverage.
“But more importantly, [what they will] Because they are not covered, they can qualify for different programs within our system,” she added.
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FOX News' Audrey Conklin and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
