Help Still Available for North Carolinians with Homes Damaged by Hurricane Matthew

North Carolinians whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew should apply for help through application centers, state emergency management officials urged on Tuesday.

With more than $650 million already spent on Hurricane Matthew recovery – and more help on the way – North Carolinians whose homes were damaged by the storm are encouraged to complete applications as soon as possible for help through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CBDG-DR) program.

“Rebuilding after a disaster is a long-term process and we know help can never come fast enough for those in need,” State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said. “There are many North Carolinians out there who still need help rebuilding their homes and we are urging them to apply for this help today.”

ReBuild NC Housing Application Centers are currently open in Cumberland, Edgecombe, Robeson and Wayne counties, which are four communities hit particularly hard by the storm. Applicants in any of the 22 counties designated for CBDG-DR funding, which includes Dare and Hyde Counties, can call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment at one of the centers to begin the application process. More information about the program and the process to apply is available at the website http://www.rebuild.nc.gov/apply.

Four additional application centers will open in the coming weeks in Bertie, Columbus, Lenoir and Pender counties. Opening dates and exact locations are being finalized and will be announced soon.

Per the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, CDBG-DR funds are available to assist qualified low- and moderate-income families and individuals with Hurricane Matthew housing recovery.  Applications for the funds go through a detailed process requiring multiple checks for eligibility, duplication of benefit, environmental reviews, and more. Staff are working with applicants to complete the paperwork as quickly as possible. This is the largest CDBG-DR program ever operated by North Carolina.

A North Carolina selection committee has chosen a contractor, IEM, to assist in the administration of the 8-step process needed to complete the CDBG-DR program. Congress last year earmarked approximately $237 million in CDBG-DR funds for North Carolina, and earlier this year announced an additional $168 million for the program that will become available once HUD publishes the notice in the Federal Register.

CDBG-DR funding is one of several programs helping North Carolinians rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. So far, more than $650 million has been spent on Hurricane Matthew recovery, including:

State emergency management officials anticipate approximately $115 million total in HMGP grants will be awarded to help Matthew survivors get into more flood-resistant homes. They hope to have all of the mitigation grants awarded by early August.