Disaster Assistance Team returns to Hatteras, FEMA deadline extended

A Disaster Survivor Assistance Team is returning to Hatteras Island Saturday, Nov. 19 through Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Also, yesterday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a 31-day extension for Hurricane Matthew survivors to apply for federal disaster assistance.
 
On Saturday, Nov. 19, Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members are expected to canvass Hatteras Island neighborhoods sharing information on FEMA’S Individual Assistance Program.
 
Team members will also be located at the Dare County Satellite Campus in Frisco from Monday, Nov. 21. through Wednesday, Nov. 23. working alongside Dare County staff to answer disaster survivor questions and concerns.
 
In addition, Dare County Emergency Management has requested that a mobile Disaster Recovery Center return to Hatteras Island when it is available to give residents additional time to meet one-on-one with FEMA representatives regarding requests for disaster assistance.

The state has requested more time for registration because a number of counties were added for individual assistance several weeks after the original Oct. 10 presidential disaster declaration.

Survivors now have until Jan. 9, 2017, to register with FEMA. This new deadline also applies to homeowners, renters and businesses submitting applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Registration is open to survivors in Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Wake, Washington, Wayne and Wilson counties.

Hatteras residents can register with the Disaster Survivor Assistance Team next week, at the recovery center if it returns or online or by phone.

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for voice, 711 and Video Relay Service. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585.

Download the FEMA Mobile App and apply.

FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare or other federal benefits.

Register even if you have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but if you are underinsured you may receive help after your claim has been settled.

Through Wednesday, Nov. 16, FEMA has taken 969 applications from Dare County residents totaling $1,021,958.79.   In Hyde, FEMA has taken 168 applications totaling $76,468.43.

Through the same period, statewide, FEMA has 72,626 registrations and has approved $75.5 million in help.

For more information on the North Carolina recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4285; or visit the North Carolina Emergency Management website at readync.org. Management @ncemergency.